How to Reinstall Your VPS Operating System

Reinstalling gives you a clean operating system on your VPS in just a couple of clicks. It’s the fastest way to start fresh or switch to a different Linux distribution – but it erases everything, so read this first.

Before you reinstall

Reinstalling erases all data on your VPS. Make sure you have a snapshot or an off-server backup of anything you want to keep – websites, databases, configuration files and email.

Step-by-step: Reinstall the OS

1. Open your VPS in the Client Area and go to the Reinstall tab.
2. Read the red warning about data loss.
3. Under Select Operating System, choose an image from the dropdown.
4. Click Reinstall VPS and confirm.

VPS Reinstall tab with operating system selection and data-loss warning

After the reinstall

The VPS boots into the fresh operating system with new login credentials. Check the Credentials tab for the new details, then run your system updates and restore your data from the snapshot or backup.

JetHost Experts Tip

Create a snapshot right before reinstalling. If something goes wrong, or you simply change your mind, you can restore your previous system instead of rebuilding from scratch.

Need More Help?

A reinstall is a clean slate for your VPS – just make sure your data is safely backed up first. If you get stuck, the JetHost team is available 24/7 and usually answers in under five minutes – just contact us and we’ll help you sort it out. Explore our other VPS tutorials to get the most out of your server.