Install Win32 OpenSSH

Install using WinGet

Starting with GitHub Release 8.9.1.0, OpenSSH Beta releases are available through WinGet. With WinGet installed on the machine, use the following commands:

• Search:
  winget search "openssh beta"
• Install:
  winget install "openssh beta"
• Uninstall:
  winget uninstall "openssh beta"

note: to install/uninstall only the OpenSSH client or OpenSSH server, see https://github.com/PowerShell/Win32-OpenSSH/wiki/Install-Win32-OpenSSH-Using-MSI for args that can be passed to winget via --override (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/winget/install).

Install Win32 OpenSSH (test release)

1. Win32-OpenSSH Github releases can be installed on Windows 7 and up.

2. Note these considerations and project scope first.

3. Download the latest build of OpenSSH. To get links to latest downloads this wiki page.

4. Extract contents of the latest build to C:\Program Files\OpenSSH (Make sure binary location has the Write permissions to just to SYSTEM, Administrator groups. Authenticated users should and only have Read and Execute.)

5. In an elevated Powershell console, run the following

   • powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File install-sshd.ps1

6. Open the firewall for sshd.exe to allow inbound SSH connections

   • New-NetFirewallRule -Name sshd -DisplayName 'OpenSSH Server (sshd)' -Enabled True -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -Action Allow -LocalPort 22

   Note: New-NetFirewallRule is for Windows 2012 and above servers only. If you're on a client desktop machine (like Windows 10) or Windows 2008 R2 and below, try:

   netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=sshd dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=22
   

7. Start sshd (this will automatically generate host keys under %programdata%\ssh if they don't already exist)

   • net start sshd

8. Optional

   • To configure a default shell, see here
   • To setup sshd service to auto-start
     • Set-Service sshd -StartupType Automatic
   • To migrate sshd configuration from older versions (0.0.X.X), see here

Uninstall Win32 OpenSSH

• Start Windows Powershell as Administrator
• Navigate to the OpenSSH directory
  • cd 'C:\Program Files\OpenSSH'
• Run the uninstall script
  • powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File uninstall-sshd.ps1