How to Fix Linux VPS “Access Denied” Error?

If you receive an “Access Denied” error while trying to connect to your VPS server using programs like PuTTY, there could be several reasons for this. You can review the steps below to troubleshoot the connection issue.

1.Server Uptime or Server Shutdown:
If you suddenly cannot access a server that you were previously able to connect to and receive an “Access Denied” error, the server’s subscription may have expired or the server might have been stopped. Although this situation typically results in a “Connection Timed Out” error rather than “Access Denied”, it is still a good idea to check the server’s status and uptime just in case. You can log in to your customer panel to check whether your server is active and if its subscription has expired. If the time has expired, access can usually be restored shortly after renewal.

2- Incorrect Username or Password
If your server is active but you’re still getting an “Access Denied” error, the username or password may have been entered incorrectly.
Make sure you have typed these credentials correctly. If you haven’t made any changes previously, you can check your username and password from your customer panel and try logging in again.

Additional info: Sometimes users try to paste their passwords using the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V shortcuts, which can cause access errors. You can try typing your password manually to log in.

3- Unauthorized User
If you are not the main user of the server, access to the VPS may be restricted to certain users only. Other users might be blocked. In this case, you need to contact your server administrator.

4- Firewall Block
If there is an active firewall on the server, it may have temporarily blocked your IP address. In such cases, you can use the browser terminal connection from the customer panel to check server access and make the necessary corrections if access is available.

5- Root Access May Be Disabled
An “Access Denied” error can occur if the root user is not allowed to log in according to the SSH configuration file. In this case, use the browser terminal available in the customer panel (or connect via SSH key with a different user if password login is not possible) to access the server, check root access, and grant permission if it is not enabled.

When you access the terminal, paste the following command:
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Find the line that says ‘PermitRootLogin no’ and change it to:
PermitRootLogin yes
If you don’t find such a line, you can add ‘PermitRootLogin yes’ yourself. After following the steps above, save the file, exit the terminal, and restart the server.

If you still cannot access your server after following all the steps above, you can contact our support team.