For the uninitiated, Secure Shell, or SSH, is a protocol that allows you to establish an easy-to-use yet robust connection between two devices. Typically used for sharing files or executing remote commands over a network, SSH is the perfect way to access any of your devices from your PC.

With Raspberry Pi being one of the most-used SBCs for hobbyist projects, you’re bound to require SSH functionality in the palm-sized system sooner or later. So, we’ve compiled a detailed guide to help you SSH into your Raspberry Pi and access it from any Windows machine.

How to enable SSH before installing an OS on the Raspberry Pi

Using Raspberry Pi Imager

First, you’ll need to enable the SSH functionality on your Raspberry Pi. If you haven’t already flashed an operating system onto your microSD card, you can use the OS customization settings available in the Raspberry Pi Imager app to enable SSH.

  1. Hit Next once you've set the Device, Operating System, and Storage options within the Raspberry Pi Imager.
    The Raspberry Pi Imager with the Device, Operating System, Storage, and Next buttons highlighted
  2. Select Edit Settings when prompted by the app to apply OS customization settings.
    The Raspberry Pi Imager with the Edit Settings option highlighted
  3. Head to the Services tab and make sure the Enable SSH checkbox and the Use password authentication option are enabled.
    The procedure to enable SSH using Raspberry Pi Imager
  4. Click the Save button and proceed with the usual procedure to flash the microSD card.

Using the ssh file

If you're accustomed to using Balena Etcher, Rufus, or other flashing tools, you can create an empty ssh text file before inserting the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi.

  1. Head to the microSD card's directory using the File Explorer.
    The bootfs directory inside File Explorer
  2. Right-click anywhere on the screen, hover your cursor over New, and select Text Document.
    The procedure to create a new text document in Windows 11
  3. Rename this file to ssh.
    The procedure to enable SSH by creating the ssh text file in the File Explorer

How to enable SSH after installing an OS on the Raspberry Pi

Using the Configuration settings

Assuming you’re using the Raspberry Pi OS, there are several ways to turn on SSH functionality on your RPi. The simplest method involves modifying certain Configuration settings:

  1. Click the Raspberry button before hovering your cursor over Preferences and selecting Raspberry Pi Configuration.
    The procedure to open the Raspberry Pi Configuration
  2. Head to the Interfaces tab.
  3. Set the SSH toggle to Enabled and press the OK button.
    The settings used to enable SSH within the Raspberry Pi Configuration utility

Using the raspi-config tool

If you prefer a more BIOS-like interface, you can utilize the Raspberry Pi Software Configuration tool, which is accessible via the Terminal.

  1. Click on the terminal app.
    The Raspberry Pi terminal app
  2. Type the following command within the terminal window: 
    sudo raspi-config
    The terminal in Raspberry Pi OS depicting the raspi-config command
  3. Navigate to Interface options.
    The raspi-config tool in Raspberry Pi OS depicting the Interface options
  4. Select SSH and tap Yes when asked for confirmation.
    The procedure to enable SSH using the raspi-config tool
  5. Click on Finish to exit raspi-config.
    The Finish button highlighted inside the raspi-config tool

Using the terminal

Finally, if you prefer terminal commands to GUI settings, you can use the systemctl command to enable SSH on the SBC. This method is also compatible with other Debian-based Linux distros, including Ubuntu.

  1. Open the terminal app.
  2. Paste the following commands into the Terminal window and press Enter to execute them: 
    • sudo systemctl enable ssh
    • sudo systemctl start ssh
      The systemctl commands used to enable SSH

How to find the IP address of your Raspberry Pi

Before you can access your Raspberry Pi from your PC, you’ll need to find its IP address. There are many ways to do this, but we’ll use the simplest method for now.

  1. Click on the Wi-Fi/Ethernet icon.
  2. Hover over the Advanced Options and choose Connection Information.
    The Wi-Fi settings on the Raspberry Pi
  3. Make a note of the IP Address under the IPv4 header.
    The IPv4 address of a Raspberry Pi

How to SSH into the Raspberry Pi on your PC

Now that you know your Raspberry Pi’s IP address and have enabled SSH, it’s time to switch to your PC. While you can use the built-in terminal emulator on Windows 11, I’ve switched to PuTTY as it’s much easier to use.

  1. Make sure your Raspberry Pi is powered on and connected to Ethernet/Wi-Fi.
  2. Download PuTTY from this link and run its executable file as an administrator.
  3. Enter the IP address of your Raspberry Pi as the hostname and select SSH as the connection type before hitting the Open button.
    A screenshot of PuTTY with the IP address of the Raspberry Pi highlighted
  4. Enter the username and password of your Raspberry Pi to gain access to it over SSH.
    A screenshot of PuTTY with the name and password of the root user highlighted

Accessing your Raspberry Pi via SSH

A Raspberry Pi 5 running Windows 11

Assuming you followed all the steps correctly, PuTTY will show user@raspberrypi as the device name, and you’re free to run as many commands as you wish from your PC. If you’re wondering what you can do with SSH, this feature will be useful when you make a NAS with your Raspberry Pi. Besides letting you use port forwarding on the SBC, SSH also allows you to remotely install any app on the Raspberry Pi.