The Ultimate Guide to Connecting to a VPS from a Mac (2025 Step-by-Step Tutorial)

If you’ve just purchased a Virtual Private Server (VPS) and need to connect to it from your Mac, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re a developer, sysadmin, or a tech enthusiast, this step-by-step guide will help you securely access your VPS using SSH, SFTP, and GUI tools—all optimized for speed, security, and ease of use.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know:
✔ How to SSH into a VPS from Terminal (with or without passwords)
✔ Setting up SSH keys for passwordless, ultra-secure logins
✔ Transferring files via SFTP (both command line & GUI methods)
✔ Best GUI clients for VPS management on Mac
✔ Troubleshooting common connection errors

Let’s dive in!

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Connecting

Before connecting to your VPS, ensure you have:

• VPS IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100 or a domain like server.yourdomain.com)
• SSH username (usually root for a fresh VPS)
• SSH password (or private key if using key-based auth)
• SSH port (default is 22, but some providers use custom ports)

(Got everything? Let’s connect!)

Method 1: Connect via SSH Using Terminal (Fast & Secure)

Every Mac comes with a built-in Terminal app, perfect for SSH access.

Step 1: Open Terminal

• Press ⌘ + Space, type Terminal, and hit Enter.

Step 2: Run the SSH Command

Type:

bash

ssh username@your_server_ip

(Example: ssh root@104.248.123.45)

Step 3: Verify the Fingerprint (First-Time Only)

You’ll see:

bash

The authenticity of host '104.248.123.45' can't be established.
ECDSA key fingerprint is SHA256:xxxxxxxxx.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?

Type yes and press Enter.

Step 4: Enter Your Password

(Note: The cursor won’t move—this is normal for security!)

✅ Success! You’re now logged into your VPS.

Method 2: Passwordless SSH Login (More Secure & Convenient)

Typing passwords is tedious. SSH keys are safer and faster.

Step 1: Generate an SSH Key on Your Mac

Run:

bash

ssh-keygen -t ed25519

(Press Enter 3x to save in ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 without a passphrase—or add one for extra security.)

Step 2: Copy the Public Key to Your VPS

Use:

bash

ssh-copy-id root@your_server_ip

Enter your VPS password one last time.

Step 3: SSH Without a Password!

Now, just run:

bash

ssh root@your_server_ip

No password needed! 🎉

Method 3: Transfer Files Using SFTP (Command Line)

Need to upload or download files? SFTP is your friend.

Step 1: Connect via SFTP

bash

sftp root@your_server_ip

Step 2: Basic SFTP Commands

(Example: put website.zip uploads a file to your VPS.)

🖥 Method 4: GUI Apps for Easy VPS Management (No Terminal Needed)

Prefer a visual interface? Try these Mac-friendly SSH/SFTP clients:

🔹 Termius (Best Free SSH Client)

✔ Clean UI, multi-server support
✔ Free for basic use
👉 Download Termius

🔹 Cyberduck (Best Free SFTP/FTP Client)

✔ Drag-and-drop file transfers
✔ Supports SSH, FTP, S3, and more
👉 Download Cyberduck

🔹 Royal TSX (Premium Multi-Protocol Tool)

✔ Great for managing multiple servers
✔ Supports RDP, VNC, SSH, and more
👉 Download Royal TSX

(All three work great on macOS Ventura & Sonoma.)

🚨 Troubleshooting Common SSH Issues

❌ “Connection Refused” Error?

➔ Check if your VPS is online (ping your_server_ip)
➔ Verify the SSH port (some VPS providers use non-standard ports)
➔ Ensure the firewall allows SSH (sudo ufw allow 22 on Ubuntu)

❌ “Permission Denied (Publickey)”?

➔ Fix SSH key permissions:

bash

chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

➔ Ensure the key is added to ssh-agent:

bash

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

❌ Slow SSH Connections?

Add this to ~/.ssh/config:

bash

Host *
  IPQoS throughput

Pro Tips for Power Users

⚡ Use tmux or screen to keep sessions running after disconnecting.
⚡ Edit ~/.ssh/config to save server details:

bash

Host myserver  
  HostName your_server_ip  
  User root  
  Port 22  

Now just run ssh myserver!

⚡ Need a SOCKS proxy? Tunnel web traffic securely:

bash

ssh -D 8080 root@your_server_ip

Final Thoughts

Now you know four ways to connect to a VPS from a Mac:

1. Terminal SSH (fast & lightweight)
2. SSH keys (passwordless & secure)
3. SFTP for file transfers (command line)
4. GUI apps like Termius & Cyberduck (user-friendly)