How to Enable and Use Windows 10’s New Built-in SSH Commands

To enable and use Windows 10’s built-in SSH commands, you can follow these steps:

  1. Enable the OpenSSH Client:
    • Open the Start menu and go to “Settings.”
    • Click on “Apps” and then select “Apps & features” from the left sidebar.
    • In the “Apps & features” settings, click on “Optional features.”
    • Click on “Add a feature” and scroll down to find “OpenSSH Client.”
    • Select it and click on the “Install” button to enable the OpenSSH Client.
  2. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell:
    • You can open the Command Prompt or PowerShell by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting the desired option from the context menu.
  3. Using SSH commands:
    • Once you have Command Prompt or PowerShell open, you can use SSH commands.
    • To connect to an SSH server, use the following command:
      ssh username@hostname

      Replace “username” with your SSH username and “hostname” with the IP address or domain name of the SSH server you want to connect to.

    • If it’s your first time connecting to a server, you’ll be prompted to confirm the server’s authenticity. Type “yes” to continue.
    • You’ll then be prompted to enter your SSH password. Note that the password won’t be visible as you type.
    • After entering the password correctly, you should be connected to the SSH server.
  4. Additional SSH commands:
    • Once connected to an SSH server, you can use various commands to interact with the remote system. Here are a few common ones:
      • ls: List files and directories.
      • cd: Change the current directory.
      • mkdir: Create a new directory.
      • rm: Remove a file or directory.
      • mv: Move or rename a file or directory.
      • cp: Copy files and directories.
      • nano: Open a text editor to create or edit files.
      • wget: Download files from the web.
      • scp: Copy files between the local system and the remote server.

These steps should help you enable and use the built-in SSH commands in Windows 10. Remember to replace “username” and “hostname” with the appropriate values for your SSH server.