How to install OpenSSH client on Windows 10

If you’re a network administrator, developer, or someone hosting a website in the cloud, you’ve probably been using tools like Putty on Windows 10 to connect to your server using Secure Shell (SSH), which works fine, but you no longer need to rely on third-party tools as the Fall Creators Update now includes a ported version of OpenSSH.

What’s Secure Shell? In case you’re unfamiliar, SSH is a networking protocol similar to Telnet and FTP that allows you to transmit data from one computer to another, but unlike other protocols, this one transmits information securely using encryption. OpenSSH is a popular app in the Linux community as it allows you to connect and manage a remote server using the SSH protocol as if you’re sitting in front of it.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to install OpenSSH on a PC running the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update using the Settings app “Optional features,” and installing the Ubuntu distro.

• How to install OpenSSH using Settings
• How to install OpenSSH using Ubuntu

How to install OpenSSH using Settings

Installing the OpenSSH package directly into Windows 10 allows to use Command Prompt to connect a remote server using SSH as if it was a native component of Windows.

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click on Apps & features.

4. Under “Apps & features,” click the Manage optional features link.

   

5. Click the Add a feature button.

   

6. Select the OpenSSH Client option.

7. Click the Install button.

   

Once you’ve completed the steps, the Linux-based OpenSSH (beta) application will install on Windows 10.

You can always start the client by launching a Command Prompt session, and running the ssh command to use OpenSSH.

How to install OpenSSH using Ubuntu

Alternatively, you can install the Ubuntu distro for Windows 10 that already includes OpenSSH. (You’ll be using the same commands using Command Prompt on Windows 10 or using the Ubuntu console, so it doesn’t really matter which method you use.)

Install the Windows Subsystem for Linux

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Windows Features, in the result, and click Turn Windows features on or off.

3. Check the Windows System for Linux option.

   

4. Click OK.

5. Click the Restart now button.

After restarting your computer, you can proceed to install Ubuntu on Windows 10.

Install Ubuntu on Windows 10

1. Open the Microsoft Store.

2. Search for Ubuntu.

   

3. Click the Install button.

Once you’ve completed the steps, you don’t need to do anything else, because OpenSSH comes pre-installed with Ubuntu. You can launch the tool by launching Ubuntu from the Start menu, and then simply run the ssh command to use OpenSSH.