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How to change the operating system of your VPS
How to change the operating system of your VPS

Changing the OS template for your Hostinger VPS

Updated over 4 months ago

When you first activate your VPS order right after purchase, you get the option to choose the VPS operating system (OS). If you want to change the OS template for an already active order, you can do so in a few clicks.

Changing or reinstalling the operating system on your VPS will permanently delete all your current data, including the snapshot, if there is any. Make sure to download a backup via FTP beforehand if you wish to keep your information.

Change the operating system

To change your current OS template for a different one, navigate to the VPS section of your hPanel and click on Manage next to the server:

You will reach the VPS dashboard. Expand the OS & Panel section on the sidebar and select Operating System. There, you will find three tabs:

  • Plain OS - only the base operating system, without any software or graphical desktop environment (GUI). This option suits advanced users and users who wish to install a custom panel manually

  • OS with Panel - OS installation that includes a web-based control panel. Some require a separate license. This option is easier to use compared with plain OS, especially for beginners

  • Application - these are templates that include the automatic installation of applications such as Django, Drupal, Joomla, WordPress, and more

Navigate to the desired tab or use the search bar to find your preferred OS, select the version if applicable, and clickon Change OS:

The VPS rebuilding will start, removing any previous data and creating a clean install with the new OS you selected.

Reinstall the operating system

If you wish to start your VPS from scratch with the same OS and panel you were already using, you can reinstall it. Scroll down to the Reinstall your Operating System section on the same page and click on Reinstall:

Reinstalling will remove all the current data and snapshot, and rebuild the VPS with the same OS and panel it previously had.

NOTE

  • Changing or reinstalling the operating system won't affect your existing backups. However, restoring a backup or snapshot created with a different OS will revert your system to the OS that was in use when the backup or snapshot was made.

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