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To generate an SSH key in Windows 11, open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run ssh-keygen. It creates a private key and a matching public key; generation happens on your PC, so you must still add the public key to the destination service or server before it can authenticate.
1. Check that the OpenSSH Client is installed
Windows 11 supports OpenSSH, and ssh-keygen is part of the OpenSSH Client tools. The client may need to be added as a Windows optional feature; the separate OpenSSH Server is not needed to generate a key. Microsoft recommends the in-box OpenSSH Feature on Demand for most users.
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and enter:
ssh-keygenIf Windows says the command is not recognized, install OpenSSH Client from Windows Settings under System > Optional features, then reopen the terminal and try again. Microsoft’s [OpenSSH overview](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh_overview) lists the client tools, and its [Windows OpenSSH setup guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh_install_firstuse) explains installation.
2. Generate the key pair
Run ssh-keygen. Microsoft’s Windows guidance says Ed25519 is used when you do not specify an algorithm. If the service or administrator you are connecting to requires a particular algorithm or key format, follow that requirement instead; not every destination accepts every algorithm.
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At the prompts:
- Save location: Press Enter to accept the suggested location in your user profile’s
.sshdirectory, or type a different file path. The private key is saved at the chosen path; the matching public key uses the same name with.pubappended. - Passphrase: Enter a passphrase to protect the private key, then enter it again to confirm. You can leave it empty, but a passphrase adds protection if someone obtains the private key file. Microsoft explains key generation and passphrases in its key-based authentication guide.
For example, if you accept a suggested path ending in id_ed25519, the public key is the corresponding id_ed25519.pub file. Your actual filename may differ if you choose another path or algorithm.
3. Identify and protect the two files
- Private key: The file without the
.pubextension. Keep it confidential, protect it like a password, and do not paste or upload it to a website, support channel, or remote account. - Public key: The matching file ending in
.pub. This is the file to share with the intended SSH service or server.
Keep a secure backup of the private key if you need continued access. If it is exposed, treat it as compromised: create a replacement pair and update the public key at each destination where the old one was authorized. If you lose the private key, you cannot recover it from the public key; create a new pair and install its public key wherever access is needed.
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4. Add the public key to the destination
Creating the pair does not install the public key anywhere, create an SSH server, or confirm that a login will work. Copy or upload only the .pub file to the account or server you intend to access, using that destination’s instructions. Once the public key is authorized there, the SSH client can use the corresponding private key to authenticate.
For a Windows OpenSSH server, Microsoft says key-based authentication supports local Windows accounts and Active Directory accounts; Microsoft Entra ID accounts are not supported for this Windows OpenSSH authentication method. That restriction is specific to authentication to Windows OpenSSH and does not determine what third-party services support.
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5. Optional: load the key with ssh-agent
You can use ssh-agent to make a private key available to the SSH client without manually loading it for repeated connections. This is optional; it is not required to create a key pair. Microsoft documents configuring the agent and adding a key with ssh-add in its key-based authentication guide.
Common questions and fixes
Where is my public key?
Look in the path you selected during key generation. The public key has the same base filename as the private key and ends in .pub. If you accepted the proposed location, check the .ssh directory in your Windows user profile.
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What if I cannot find ssh-keygen?
Confirm that OpenSSH Client is installed in Optional features, then reopen PowerShell or Command Prompt. Installing OpenSSH Server is unnecessary for key generation.
Do I need an SSH config file?
No. A basic key pair does not require client configuration. If you later configure SSH connections on Windows, the per-user client configuration file is %userprofile%.sshconfig, as described in Microsoft’s OpenSSH Server Configuration for Windows.
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