How to Download, Install, and Configure OpenSSH for Windows

Download

To get started with OpenSSH for Windows, select the appropriate file from the list on the right. Choose the version that matches your system’s architecture:

• ARM: For ARM-based Windows devices
• ARM64: For 64-bit ARM architecture
• Win32: For 32-bit Windows systems
• Win64: For 64-bit Windows systems

Download the corresponding installer (.msi) or zip file for your platform. Symbol files are also available for debugging purposes if needed.

Install

For MSI Installers:

1. Run the downloaded .msi file.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions in the installation wizard.
3. The default installation location is usually C:\Program Files\OpenSSH, but you can choose a different path if desired.
4. After installation, OpenSSH server and client tools will be available on your system.

For Zip Files:

1. Download the zip file for your platform.
2. Extract the contents to your preferred location, such as C:\OpenSSH.
3. Add the OpenSSH binaries to your system’s PATH environment variable to make the command-line tools accessible.

Configure

Server Configuration:

1. Go to the OpenSSH installation directory.
2. Locate the sshd_config file. This file allows you to customize settings such as:
   • Permitted users
   • Authentication methods (password or key-based)
   • Port and address configurations
3. Edit the configuration file with a text editor to meet your security requirements.
4. Save the changes and restart the OpenSSH server service.

Client Configuration:

OpenSSH client tools, including ssh and scp, are included. Use these tools to securely connect to remote systems. For example, use the ssh command to connect to a remote server.

Verify Installation

After installation, verify that OpenSSH is properly installed by checking the version information through the command line.