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Asked: 2024-09-22T07:24:27+05:30 In:

How can I create new SSH keys on a Windows 10 or 11 system?

Hey everyone! I’m trying to enhance my system’s security and I’ve heard that creating new SSH keys is a great way to do that. I’m using a Windows 10 system (I also have access to Windows 11), but I’m a bit lost on where to start.

Could someone walk me through the process of generating new SSH keys on either of these operating systems? Any tips or specific commands I should be aware of? Also, it would be super helpful to know how to add these keys to the SSH agent afterward. Thanks in advance for your help!

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    2 Answers



    1. Generating SSH Keys on Windows 10/11

      How to Generate SSH Keys on Windows 10/11

      Hey there! Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through the process of generating new SSH keys step by step. Just follow these instructions:

      Step 1: Open PowerShell

      1. Press Win + X or right-click the Start button.

      2. Select Windows PowerShell or Windows Terminal from the menu.

      Step 2: Generate SSH Keys

      In the PowerShell window, enter the following command:

      ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com"

      Replace your_email@example.com with your actual email address. This command will generate a new SSH key using the RSA algorithm and a key size of 4096 bits.

      Step 3: Save the Key

      You will be prompted to choose a location to save the key. Just hit Enter to accept the default location (usually C:\Users\YourUsername\.ssh\id_rsa).

      If you want, you can also set a passphrase for an extra layer of security. Just follow the prompts!

      Step 4: Add SSH Key to SSH Agent

      To use the key you’ve just created, you need to add it to the SSH agent. First, make sure the SSH agent is running:

      eval $(ssh-agent -s)

      Then, add your SSH private key:

      ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa

      Step 5: Verify Your Key

      You can check if your key has been added successfully by running:

      ssh-add -l

      This should list your SSH key! If you see your key listed, you’re all set!

      Tips

      • Keep your private key (id_rsa) secure and do not share it with anyone.
      • Make sure to add the public key (id_rsa.pub) to the servers you wish to connect to.

      That’s it! You’ve successfully generated and added your SSH keys on Windows 10/11. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!




    2. Generating SSH Keys on Windows 10/11

      To generate new SSH keys on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 system, you can utilize the built-in OpenSSH Client that comes with these operating systems. First, open PowerShell or Command Prompt by searching for it in the Start menu. Once you have your terminal open, run the following command to generate a new SSH key pair: ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com". This command creates a new RSA key pair with 4096 bits of encryption. You’ll be prompted to specify a file location to save the keys (the default is usually fine). After that, you can choose to set a passphrase for additional security or leave it empty for no passphrase.

      Once you have generated your SSH keys, the next step is to add them to the SSH agent for easier usage. Start the SSH agent in the background with the command eval $(ssh-agent -s). After that, you can add your newly created SSH key to the agent by executing ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa (or the appropriate path if you chose a different filename). To confirm that your keys are successfully added, you can check by running ssh-add -l, which will list the currently loaded keys. Make sure you store the public key (found in ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub) securely and share it with any systems you wish to authenticate to using SSH.


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