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Windows 10 has since some while ago a OpenSSH client included. There is also an option to install a OpenSSH server. One issue I regularly encounter is that the server is as default setup to not allow my user to login using the authorized_keys file located at %USERPROFILE%\.ssh\ as my user is a local administrator. Let’s fix this.

Installing OpenSSH Server

This is most conveniently done using Windows Settings.

  1. Open Windows Settings (WIN+I)
  2. Navigate to Apps
  3. Select Apps & Features
  4. Open Optional features
  5. Select Add a feature
  6. Scroll down to OpenSSH Server
  7. Press Install

Enabling SSH login

  1. Open a notepad or your favorate text editor as administrator.
  2. Open sshd_config located at: C:\ProgramData\ssh\sshd_config
  3. Find the following line: Match Group administrators, for me this is in the bottom of the file.
  4. Comment the following 2 rows:

    Match Group administrators
        AuthorizedKeysFile __PROGRAMDATA__/ssh/administrators_authorized_keys
  5. Restart service OpenSSH SSH Server

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