Windows 11 also adds support for OpenSSH, and it works. You can ditch your standalone SSH client and instead use the built-in SSH client that comes with Windows 11. OpenSSH client comes ready to be installed, it’s not enabled by default in Windows 11. You must install it, then use it like any other dedicated SSH client. Built-in SSH client has always been a Linux thing, and not Windows. This is a good change for Windows users. Hopefully, Windows users should not have to use third-party SSH clients like Putty and others to connect to SSH servers.
Install OpenSSH Client in Windows 11
To install and enable Windows built-in SSH client, follow the steps below. Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane. To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below: Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it. Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Apps, and select Optional features on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below. On the Optional Features settings pane, under Installed features, search for OpenSSH Client. If it’s not already installed, then click on the Add an optional feature above. On the Add, an optional feature pane, search for and select OpenSSH Client as highlighted below, then install. You should now have the OpenSSH client installed in Windows 11.
Use Windows 11 built-in OpenSSH client
Now that the client is installed, all you have to do is open Windows Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell. Either program should work for you. The client works just like the ones on Linux and other operating systems. Type the ssh command followed by the username @ hostname or host IP address. You may specify the SSH port if not the standard port. If the server is configured right, access should be granted. ex. ssh richard@server.name.com That’s it! Conclusion: This post showed you how to install, enable and use Windows 11 built-in OpenSSH client. If you find any error above, please use the comment form below to report.
