SSH: What is it and how to use it

SSH: What It Is and How to Use It

SSH, or Secure Shell, is simply a way to type commands on another device from your computer. Think of it like a text chat with your device — you type a command, it does the thing.

With SSH, you can:

Send commands to another computer
Access files
Troubleshoot issues
Set up software and configurations

No coding skills needed — we'll give you the exact commands to copy and paste.

What You Need Before You Start

IP Address: The network address of the device you want to connect to.

Important: The IP address must be just the numbers, like 192.168.1.100
Do not include http://, https://, slashes, or port numbers

Username and Password: Credentials for the device (e.g., the default for many Raspberry Pi setups is pi / raspberry, or root for some devices).

Windows 10 / 11

Modern Windows has SSH built-in — no extra software needed.

Open Terminal or PowerShell

Press Win + X and select "Terminal" or "PowerShell"

Type the SSH command (replace the placeholders):

   ssh username@ip-address

Example:

   ssh root@192.168.1.42

Press Enter.

First-time connection warning

If asked "Are you sure you want to continue connecting?", type yes and press Enter. This is normal for first-time connections.

Enter your password

Type your password and press Enter.
Note: The password won't show as you type — that's normal! Just type it and press Enter.

You're now connected!

macOS

Open Terminal

Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight, type "Terminal", and press Enter.

Type the SSH command (replace the placeholders):

   ssh username@ip-address

Example:

   ssh root@192.168.1.42

Press Enter.

First-time connection warning

If asked "Are you sure you want to continue connecting?", type yes and press Enter.

Enter your password

Type your password and press Enter.
Note: The password won't show as you type — that's normal! Just type it and press Enter.

You're now connected!

Linux

Open Terminal

Usually Ctrl + Alt + T, or find it in your applications menu.

Type the SSH command (replace the placeholders):

   ssh username@ip-address

Example:

   ssh root@192.168.1.42

Press Enter.

First-time connection warning

If asked "Are you sure you want to continue connecting?", type yes and press Enter.

Enter your password

Type your password and press Enter.
Note: The password won't show as you type — that's normal! Just type it and press Enter.

You're now connected!

Chromebook

First-time setup: You need to enable Linux on your Chromebook (one-time only).

Enable Linux (skip if already done):

Open Settings
Go to Advanced → Developers
Turn on "Linux development environment"
Follow the setup wizard (this may take a few minutes)

Open Terminal

Open the "Terminal" app from your app launcher.

Type the SSH command (replace the placeholders):

   ssh username@ip-address

Example:

   ssh root@192.168.1.42

Press Enter.

First-time connection warning

If asked "Are you sure you want to continue connecting?", type yes and press Enter.

Enter your password

Type your password and press Enter.
Note: The password won't show as you type — that's normal! Just type it and press Enter.

You're now connected!

Other Devices (Tablets, Phones)

While there are various unofficial SSH apps available for Android and iOS devices, we recommend using a computer for SSH connections. Computer-based SSH provides:

A proper keyboard for typing commands
Better visibility of command output
More reliable connections
Easier copy/paste of commands

If you must use a mobile device, search your app store for "SSH client" — but be aware that support for these apps varies and we cannot provide assistance with them.

Common Issues

"Connection refused"

Make sure you're on the same network as the device
Verify the IP address is correct
Check that SSH is enabled on the device

"Permission denied"

Double-check your username and password
Remember: passwords are case-sensitive

"Host key verification failed"

The device was likely reset or reinstalled
Remove the old key by running:

  ssh-keygen -R ip-address

Then try connecting again.

No response / timeout

Ensure the device is powered on
Confirm it's connected to your network
Try pinging the IP address first: ping 192.168.1.42

Tips

Finding your device's IP address: Check your router's admin panel, or use a network scanning tool like Angry IP Scanner.
SSH keys for password-less login: Advanced users can set up SSH keys to avoid entering passwords every time.
Keep your credentials safe: Never share your SSH passwords publicly.

Got questions or need help? Reach out to our support team, and we'll be glad to assist you!

Updated on: 16/01/2026

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