How to reinstall VPS OS on Contabo

beginner 5 min read Updated 2026-03-13

Quick Answer

Log into the Contabo Customer Panel at new.contabo.com, navigate to your VPS, select Reinstall, choose an OS like Ubuntu or Debian, set a root password, and confirm to start the process. Installation takes 5-15 minutes with automatic reboot; monitor status from Pending to Completed. Connect via SSH using the new IP and password after finishing, but back up data first as everything is erased.

Prerequisites

Active Contabo VPS or VDS account
Customer Panel login credentials (new.contabo.com recommended)
Strong root password prepared
Backups of all critical data (reinstall wipes everything)
Stable internet connection

Step-by-Step Instructions

Log in to Customer Panel

Access your account at new.contabo.com (recommended) or my.contabo.com using your email and password associated with the Contabo purchase.

Navigate to Your Services

In the left-hand menu, click Your services, Servers & Hosting, VPS control, or VDS control depending on your server type and panel interface to view your VPS list.

Use the new interface at new.contabo.com for the simplest experience.

Select the Target Server

Find your VPS, then click the Manage button, three dots under More, or the equivalent action button next to it.

Initiate Reinstallation

From the dropdown or actions menu, click Reinstall, Re-install, or Install (shows as Reinstall for existing servers) to open the OS selection page. Warning: This permanently erases all data—ensure backups are complete.

For new servers, it may show Install instead.

Choose Operating System

Select from Standard Image options like Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Debian 12, CentOS, AlmaLinux, or Windows. Custom images or Cloud-Init require add-ons.

Ubuntu or Debian are common defaults for Linux users.

Select Control Panel (Optional)

From the panels dropdown, pick a stack like LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) or Installation without panel for a bare OS. Default is often without panel.

Set Root Password

Enter a strong password (minimum 8 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols) in the password field and confirm it. Some interfaces auto-generate one—note it securely as it's not emailed.

Store the password yourself; use it for SSH login post-install.

Confirm and Start Installation

Review your OS, panel, and password selections, then click Start Installation or Install. The process begins immediately with an automatic reboot.

Monitor Progress

Return to the server details page and refresh to watch status change from Pending to Running (with progress bar) to Finished or Completed. Expect 5-15 minutes.

Do not interrupt; let it complete fully.

Access the New Server

Click Instructions for login details including IP and root password (if auto-generated). Connect via SSH:

ssh root@your-server-ip

on port 22, enter the password, and change it on first login with passwd.

Update firewall and security settings immediately after login.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Installation stalled or stuck on Pending/Running

Wait 15+ minutes, refresh the page, or check status updates. Avoid interrupting; it auto-reboots and completes eventually.

Forgot root password after reinstall

Use the Instructions button for auto-generated password, or reinstall again to set a new one. Passwords are not emailed.

No Reinstall option visible

Ensure you're in VPS/VDS control section; for new servers use Install. Switch to new.contabo.com interface if using old panel.

Server not accessible post-install

Verify IP and password from Instructions, check SSH port 22, wait for full completion, and ensure no firewall blocks.

Data loss despite backups

Reinstallation always wipes the disk fully. Always back up externally before starting—no recovery possible.

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