Skip to content

How to Enable SSH Commands in Windows

After the 1809 update, Windows has been offering its users native SSH tools such as a pre-installed SSH client and an optional SSH server. This mean that in Windows 11, you do not need any third-party software to access your computer or server remotely.

Step 1: Enable SSH client:

  1. Open "Settings" > "Apps" > "Optional Features" and check if the OpenSSH client is installed - if needed, install it via "Add optional feature"

  2. Open command prompt as administrator with Windows search > "cmd.exe" > "Run as administrator"

  3. Enter CMD command: ssh

  4. Connect to the desired server with ssh name@server

Step 2: Enable SSH server:

In order to also set up an SSH server in Windows 11, you’ll need to install the OpenSSH server of Windows 11. Unlike the SSH client, this is not pre-installed.

  1. Open "Settings" > "Apps" > "Optional Features"

  2. Click "Add optional features" and select "OpenSSH Server", then "Install" (only possible with admin rights)

  1. Open the "Services" app in Windows and set the startup type for "OpenSSH Authentication Agent" and "OpenSSH Server" to "Automatic"

  2. Check firewall rules in the Run dialog with Get-NetFirewallRule -Name *SSH*.

  3. Connect to the SSH server by typing ssh <server_name>.