How to open the OpenSSH client in Windows 11 settings

Check if OpenSSH Client is Already Installed

To check if the OpenSSH client is already installed on your Windows 11 computer, open Windows Terminal and run the ssh command. If the tool is present on your system, the command-line interface displays a list of usage instructions and options rather than an error message about an unrecognized command.

1. Press the Win, type Terminal, and press Enter to open the command-line interface.
2. Type ssh and press Enter.
3. Review the output to see if it displays a list of command-line switches and usage instructions or throws an error stating the command is not recognized.

If the system displays usage instructions starting with usage: ssh [-46AaCfGgKkMNnqsTtVvXxYy], the client is already installed and ready to use. If the terminal reports that ssh is not recognized as an internal or external command, proceed to install the 💿 optional feature.

Install OpenSSH Client via Settings App

This built-in graphical menu lets you add optional Windows features without needing to use the command line, though you do need administrator privileges on your PC to complete the installation.

1. Open Settings ⚙️ by pressing Win+I.

   

2. Click on System in the left sidebar.
3. Click on Optional features from the main app settings pane.

   

4. Click the View features button next to “Add an optional feature”.
5. Type OpenSSH Client into the search 🔍 box that appears in the flyout window.

   

6. Check the box next to OpenSSH Client in the search 🔍 results.
7. Click Next and then click Install.
8. Wait for the progress bar to complete, which indicates Windows has downloaded and registered the binaries.

Install OpenSSH Client via PowerShell

To install the 💿 open ssh client windows 11 via PowerShell, open an administrative terminal and run the built-in package installation command. This method lets you add the tool quickly using the command line instead of clicking through the graphical Settings app ⚙️, which works well for automated setups.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Click Yes if the User Account Control prompt appears asking for permission to make changes to your device.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:
   

   Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsyslog.OpenSSH.Client~~~~0.0.1.0

   
   *(Note: Use the exact capability name provided by Microsoft for your system version)*
4. Wait for the deployment state to change to Installed and the restart requirement indicator to return False.

Open and Use the OpenSSH Client

To open and use the open ssh client windows 11 tools, launch Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt and type the ssh command followed by your remote server's address. Once installed, you can connect directly to remote machines using secure shell protocols from any command-line environment on your computer.

1. Open Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt.
2. Connect to a remote server by typing the ssh command followed by your username and the destination IP address or domain name:
   

   ssh username@192.0.2.10

3. Type yes when prompted to add the remote host fingerprint to your known hosts file.
4. Enter your remote password or provide your SSH key passphrase when prompted.

Configure OpenSSH Client Configuration File

To configure the open ssh client windows 11 connection settings, create a text file named config inside your user profile directory to save server addresses, usernames, and private key paths. Setting up this file lets you connect to frequently used remote servers quickly without typing long command strings every time.

1. Open Notepad or your preferred text editor.
2. Create a new file and paste your connection rules using this format:
   

   Host myserver
       HostName 192.0.2.10
       User USERNAME
       Port 22
       IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

3. Click File and select Save As.
4. Navigate to your user profile directory by typing %USERPROFILE% in the address bar and opening the .ssh folder. If the folder does not exist, create it.
5. Name the file config (ensure Notepad does not append a .txt extension) and save it.
6. Open your terminal and connect simply by typing:
   

   ssh myserver

Troubleshooting OpenSSH Installation Failures

To troubleshoot when the open ssh client windows 11 installation fails, run system repair tools like DISM and System File Checker in an administrative terminal to fix corrupted Windows Update components. These built-in commands repair damaged system files that often block optional features from installing correctly on your PC.

1. Open Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool to repair system image health by typing:
   

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

3. Run the System File Checker tool to replace any missing operating system files by typing:
   

   sfc /scannow

4. Restart your computer once the scans finish, then attempt the OpenSSH Client installation again through the Settings app or PowerShell.

What to do next

Generate cryptographic key pairs using ssh-keygen to secure your remote logins without passwords. Configure the OpenSSH Authentication Agent service to manage your loaded keys automatically across terminal sessions.