How To Install OpenSSH Client On Windows 11

If you often connect to remote servers or work with Git repositories, the OpenSSH Client is one of the most essential tools you’ll ever use. It allows you to securely access remote systems using the SSH protocol directly from your Windows terminal. Fortunately, Windows 11 includes a built-in OpenSSH Client — you just need to make sure it’s installed and enabled.

In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step how to install and verify the OpenSSH Client on Windows 11.

What Is the OpenSSH Client?

OpenSSH (Open Secure Shell) is a set of utilities that let you connect securely to other computers over the network using encryption. The OpenSSH Client is the part that allows you to connect from your computer to another device (like a Linux server or Git host).

With the OpenSSH Client installed, you can:

• Connect securely to a remote server via SSH.
• Transfer files using SCP or SFTP.
• Use Git over SSH for private repositories.
• Run remote commands directly in your Windows terminal.

Step 1: Check If OpenSSH Client Is Installed

Before installing anything, let’s verify whether the OpenSSH Client is already available on your system.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps → Optional features.
3. Scroll down and look for OpenSSH Client in the list.

If it’s listed, you’re good to go — skip to Step 4 to verify functionality. If not, follow the next step to install it manually.

Step 2: Install OpenSSH Client via Settings

1. In Settings → Apps → Optional features, scroll down and click View features next to Add an optional feature.
2. In the search bar, type OpenSSH Client.
3. Select the checkbox for OpenSSH Client and click Next → Install.
4. Wait for the installation to complete.

That’s it — you’ve installed the SSH client on Windows 11.

Step 3: Install OpenSSH Client Using Command Prompt (Alternative)

You can also install OpenSSH Client using a command-line method, which is faster and works even on Windows Server or script-based setups.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run the following command:
   dism /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:OpenSSH.Client~~~~0.0.1.0
3. Wait for Windows to download and install the feature.

Once it finishes, you’ll see a success message confirming that the OpenSSH Client has been added.

Step 4: Verify SSH Installation

To confirm that the OpenSSH Client is installed and working:

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Type the following command: ssh
3. If the command runs successfully and you see SSH usage options, the client is properly installed.

You can also try connecting to a test server (like ssh user@hostname) to confirm everything is functional.

Step 5: Update or Reinstall OpenSSH Client (Optional)

If you run into issues or suspect a corrupted installation:

1. Go back to Settings → Apps → Optional features.
2. Find OpenSSH Client and click Uninstall.
3. Reboot your PC and reinstall it again using Step 2 or Step 3.

This can fix missing executable or path-related problems.

Step 6: Add SSH to Environment Variables (Optional)

Normally, Windows adds SSH to your system path automatically. But if ssh isn’t recognized as a command:

1. Open Settings → System → About → Advanced system settings → Environment Variables.
2. Under System Variables, select Path → Edit.
3. Add the following entry if missing: C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\
4. Click OK and restart your Command Prompt.

Now, the SSH command should work globally.

Conclusion

Installing the OpenSSH Client on Windows 11 is a quick and simple process that unlocks powerful remote access capabilities. Whether you’re managing Linux servers, pushing code to GitHub via SSH, or automating secure connections — having this client configured properly saves tons of time.

Once installed, you can combine SSH with PowerShell or Windows Terminal to create a fully modern development environment right on your desktop.