The Ultimate Beginner's Guide: How to Install aaPanel on a VPS (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Install a Fresh OS (We Recommend Ubuntu!)

Before doing anything, your VPS needs a clean Operating System (OS). Think of it like installing fresh Windows on a brand-new computer.

While aaPanel works on several systems, we highly recommend using Ubuntu (specifically Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04) for beginners. It is the most popular, stable, and has the most tutorials available online.

What you need to do: Go to your hosting provider's dashboard (where you bought the VPS). Find the option to "Rebuild", "Reinstall", or "Change OS", and select Ubuntu. Wait a few minutes for the fresh installation to complete.

Step 2: Log in to Your VPS via SSH

Now that Ubuntu is installed, we need to connect to your server. We do this using a secure connection called SSH.

1. If you are on Windows: Download a free, lightweight app called PuTTY.

2. If you are on Mac/Linux: Open the built-in Terminal app.

To log in, open your Terminal or PuTTY and type the following command, replacing your_server_ip with the actual IP address provided by your host:

ssh root@your_server_ip 

Hit Enter. When it asks for your password, type or paste the root password given by your hosting provider. (Note: When typing passwords in the terminal, nothing shows on the screen. This is a normal security feature. Just type it and hit Enter).

Step 3: Update and Upgrade Your Ubuntu Server

Like any new computer, your server needs to download the latest security patches and software updates before you install any big programs.

Once you are logged in, run these two commands one by one.

First, update the list of available software:

apt update -y

(Wait a few seconds for it to finish).

Next, upgrade the actual software on the server:

apt upgrade -y 

(This might take a minute or two. If a pink/purple screen pops up asking a question during the upgrade, just press Enter to accept the default option).

Step 4: Run the aaPanel Installation Command

Now that your server is fresh and fully updated, it is time to install aaPanel.

Copy the exact code below, paste it into your terminal, and press Enter:

URL=https://www.aapanel.com/script/install_panel_en.sh && if [ -f /usr/bin/curl ];then curl -ksSO $URL ;else wget --no-check-certificate -O install_panel_en.sh $URL;fi;bash install_panel_en.sh ipssl

Shortly after starting, the terminal will pause and ask: "Do you want to install aaPanel to the /www directory now? (y/n)"

Simply type y on your keyboard and press Enter. Now, sit back and grab a coffee! The server will download and install the panel automatically. This usually takes about 2 to 5 minutes.

Step 5: Save Your Login Details (Crucial!)

When the installation is 100% complete, the scrolling text will stop, and you will see a "Congratulations" message.

Right below it, you will find your secret login details. It will look like this:

• aaPanel Internet Address:[http://123.45.67.89:8888/your_secret_path](http://123.45.67.89:8888/your_secret_path)

• username:generated_username

• password:generated_password

⚠️ STOP: Copy all of these details immediately and save them in a Notepad or password manager. You cannot log into your dashboard without this exact link and password!

Step 6: Your First Login and Setup

Your control panel is ready! Let’s get it configured to host websites.

1. Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.).

2. Paste the aaPanel Internet Address you just saved and hit Enter.

3. Log in with your new username and password.

When you enter the dashboard for the first time, a box will pop up asking you to install your web environment.