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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo connect to an SSH server, open an SSH client on your device and run ssh username@hostname, replacing the placeholders with the account and server address provided by the administrator. The server must be running an SSH service, reachable over the network, and configured to accept your password or key. The client and server are the two ends of the connection, as described in Microsoft’s OpenSSH overview.
Before you connect
Ask the server administrator for the connection details and confirm that your account is authorized. You will generally need:
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- The server’s hostname or IP address.
- Your SSH username.
- The port, if the server does not use the client’s default.
- An authentication method the server accepts, such as a password or private key.
- Confirmation that the SSH service is running and the network permits access.
These are general connection prerequisites; Microsoft lists a running server, client, IP address, and authentication among the requirements in its Factory OS connection guide. Its example address and credentials are specific to that environment, not values to copy for another server.
Connect from Windows
Windows OpenSSH includes the ssh client. Open PowerShell, Command Prompt, or Windows Terminal and enter:
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ssh username@hostnameReplace username with your server account and hostname with the address you were given. Microsoft documents OpenSSH as a Windows feature, but whether the client is installed by default depends on the Windows release. OpenSSH is available as a Feature on Demand starting with Windows 10 build 1809 and Windows Server 2019; check your system’s optional features if the ssh command is not recognized. See Microsoft’s Windows OpenSSH overview.
Windows OpenSSH also includes tools such as ssh-keygen, ssh-agent, ssh-add, sftp, and scp. The sshd command is the server component; it is not needed merely to connect outbound to another machine.
Connect from macOS
Open Terminal or another terminal application and use the same command:
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ssh username@hostnameUsing a Mac as an SSH client is different from enabling Remote Login on a Mac. Remote Login is a server-side setting that allows other devices to connect into that Mac; it is not a prerequisite for the Mac to initiate an SSH connection to another server.
Connect from Linux
Open a terminal and run:
ssh username@hostnameIf the command is unavailable on Ubuntu, install the client with:
sudo apt install openssh-clientThis package command is the Ubuntu example documented by Microsoft’s PowerShell SSH remoting guide. Other Linux distributions may use different package managers or package names; follow the instructions for your distribution and release.
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Connect from Android
Android requires an SSH client app rather than the desktop terminal workflow described above. Choose an app that supports the authentication method your server requires, lets you verify server host keys, and receives maintenance through a distribution source you trust. On a phone, also consider whether the app’s terminal interface and connection-profile management are practical for repeated use.
App availability, setup steps, and key-import behavior vary by client. The available documentation does not establish a single current Android app recommendation, so check the app’s own documentation for how to create a connection and authenticate before entering server credentials.
Use a private key or a non-default port
Specify a private key
If the server accepts public-key authentication and you have the matching private key on your device, specify that key with -i:
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ssh -i path/to/private_key username@hostnameThe path format differs between Windows and Unix-like shells. Keep the private key on the client; the server must be configured to accept the corresponding public key. Microsoft illustrates this option in its Factory OS SSH guide. A key is not a substitute for server-side authorization: the matching public key must be accepted for the account.
Specify a port
If the administrator gives you a custom SSH port, OpenSSH clients commonly use the -p option, followed by the port number. Check the installed client’s manual or app documentation for exact syntax and compatibility before relying on options beyond the basic connection command.
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What to expect when connecting
At first contact, an SSH client may ask you to verify the server’s host key. If a server you have connected to before presents a changed host key, do not accept it automatically. Verify the fingerprint with the server administrator through a trusted channel before proceeding.
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After the server identity check, provide the password or use the private key configured for your account. Server policies differ: a server may disable password authentication or require a particular key or other supported method. OpenSSH supports multiple authentication approaches, including public keys and one-time passwords; see the OpenSSH features page.
When you need to transfer files
An SSH login opens a remote shell; it does not require a separate file-transfer tool. For transfers, OpenSSH also provides SFTP and SCP, which operate through SSH. Use them only when you need to move files rather than simply work in a remote terminal. The OpenSSH project describes its suite as supporting encrypted remote login and file transfers on its features page.
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