How to Generate SSH keys in Windows 11

SSH keys are a safer way to connect to servers, services, and repositories without typing your password every time. If you’re using Windows 11, good news: generating SSH keys is quick and straightforward. Here’s how to do it, step by step.

What You Need

• A PC running Windows 11
• No extra downloads—Windows 11 already comes with the tools you need

Steps to Generate SSH Keys in Windows 11

1. Open Windows Terminal

• Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (or Windows Terminal).
• Alternatively, press Win + X and select Terminal.

2. Check for Existing SSH Keys

Before creating a new key, see if you already have one:

cd %USERPROFILE%\.ssh
dir

If you see files named id_rsa and id_rsa.pub (or id_ed25519 and id_ed25519.pub), you already have SSH keys. If you want to generate new ones, proceed.

3. Generate a New SSH Key Pair

Use the built-in ssh-keygen tool:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[email protected]"

• If your system doesn’t support ed25519, you can use rsa instead:
  ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]"

What does this do?

• -t ed25519 tells Windows to use the modern Ed25519 algorithm (recommended).
• -C adds a label (like your email) to the key for reference.

4. Follow the Prompts

• Save location: Just press Enter to accept the default location (C:\Users\YourName\.ssh\id_ed25519).
• Passphrase: You can add an extra password (optional but more secure). Otherwise, press Enter to skip.

5. Add Your SSH Key to Your Account/Service

• Your public key is the file ending in .pub (e.g., id_ed25519.pub).
• Open it with Notepad:
  notepad %USERPROFILE%\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub
• Copy the entire contents and paste it into your GitHub, GitLab, or server’s SSH settings.

Done! You’re Ready to Use SSH

From here, you can use SSH keys for secure logins, push to git repositories, or connect to servers—no more passwords.

Pro Tip:
Never share your private key (the file without .pub) with anyone. Only share the public key.

Troubleshooting

• Don’t see ssh-keygen?
  Make sure you’re in the Terminal, not PowerShell or Command Prompt. You can type where ssh-keygen to check if it’s installed.
• Getting “Permission denied” errors?
  Double-check that you copied the public key correctly and pasted it into the right place on your service or server.

Have questions? Drop them in the comments below, and I’ll help you out!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!