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You can carry your MobaXterm SSH connection details and client keys to macOS or Linux, but an exported session file does not automatically become an OpenSSH configuration. Export your sessions as a backup and inventory, then create native Host entries in ~/.ssh/config, secure the relevant private keys, and test each connection.
What transfers—and what needs rebuilding
MobaXterm can export session folders and separately export broader application configuration. These are useful backups and sources for connection details; Mobatek does not describe either export as a native OpenSSH config file. You must map each SSH session into OpenSSH directives yourself.
This process covers SSH client connections. MobaXterm also supports workflows such as RDP, VNC, Telnet, SFTP, tunnels, and X11 forwarding. The available documentation does not establish a universal conversion for those protocols or GUI features; inventory and recreate them separately with suitable tools on the destination system.
Mobatek’s release history lists MobaXterm 26.0 dated February 6, 2026, and says version 21.0 added an Import/Export configuration feature. Menus and storage locations can vary by version and edition, so use the labels available in your installed copy. See the MobaXterm release history.
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Export sessions and locate their source details
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In MobaXterm, right-click the session folder you want to preserve and choose Export sessions from this folder. Repeat for other folders as needed.
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If you also want a broader settings backup, use the separate Import/Export configuration feature in the Settings menu, where available. Keep this distinct from session-folder export.
-
Find
MobaXterm.ini, which stores settings and sessions. Mobatek documents different locations depending on edition and version: the Documents folder for installed editions, the program directory for portable editions, and%AppData%MobaXtermfor some versions. The-icommand-line option can specify the configuration path. Consult the MobaXterm documentation for the version you use.Quick wins for a faster PC:
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Use the exports and configuration file as references. For every SSH session, record its destination hostname, username, port, and client key file if one is configured. Do not assume that an export can be loaded directly as
~/.ssh/config.
Choose and protect the right client keys
Copy only the private keys used by your SSH client to authenticate to remote servers, along with any relevant certificates. Do not treat a server host private key as a client login key. Keep private key material out of shared folders and source control.
OpenSSH uses ~/.ssh/ as the default per-user configuration and authentication directory. Place the client keys you need there or in another private location, then restrict access so only your account can read them. OpenSSH may ignore a private key file that is accessible to other users. Its documentation also requires that ~/.ssh/config not be writable by other users. See the OpenSSH manual and ssh-keygen manual.
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File-based keys are the direct route when you need to keep using an existing compatible key. OpenSSH also supports authenticator-hosted key identities, which may suit a compatible client-and-server setup. That is an optional authentication approach, not a way to transfer MobaXterm sessions or existing private-key files; check compatibility with your server before relying on it. The ssh_config manual documents authenticator-hosted identities.
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On macOS or Linux, OpenSSH reads per-user client settings from ~/.ssh/config. Create the file if needed, and add one Host block for each connection you want to address by an alias. For example:
Host work-example
HostName server.example.com
User your-user
Port 22
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/work-exampleReplace the example values with the details from the corresponding MobaXterm session. Set HostName to the actual server name or address, User to the login name, and Port to the configured port when it is non-default. Use IdentityFile when that connection uses a particular private key; its path should point to the client key you secured on the new system.
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Use an alias after Host that is easy to recognize, such as work-example. You can then connect with ssh work-example rather than re-entering the full connection details. OpenSSH reads user configuration before system-wide configuration, and generally uses the first value obtained for a directive. Put more specific host blocks before broader matching blocks so an earlier general setting does not take precedence unexpectedly.
For directive syntax and matching behavior, refer to the OpenSSH ssh_config manual.
Set permissions and test one connection at a time
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Restrict each private key so it is readable only by your user, and make sure
~/.ssh/configis not writable by other users. If OpenSSH refuses a key, check its permissions before changing authentication settings.Best Value
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-
Try one alias from a terminal with
ssh work-example, substituting the alias from your config. Repeat for each host after the first connection works. -
If OpenSSH asks you to verify a server host key, assess the prompt rather than bypassing identity checking. OpenSSH records server host keys in known-host files; an unexpected key change warrants investigation.
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If authentication fails, verify the hostname, username, port, key path, and key permissions against the original session details. Check that the server accepts the key and account you are using; a correct local config cannot grant access the server has not authorized.
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Recreate non-SSH workflows separately
Keep a separate inventory of MobaXterm sessions and features that are not ordinary SSH client connections. RDP, VNC, Telnet, SFTP workflows, tunnels, and X11 forwarding may require platform-specific replacements or manual setup. The documented SSH migration steps do not establish a one-click method for converting those workflows into native OpenSSH configuration.
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