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ssh.exe

Windows ProcessMicrosoft Corporation

Catalog search terms ssh, openssh client, windows ssh

WindowsSystem Component

OpenSSH client wey follow come inside System32\OpenSSH. E no be sshd (the server) and e no be the ssh binary inside WSL distro.

Wetin you need know

Dis na the SSH client, no be sshd and no be WSL ssh.

ssh.exe inside System32\OpenSSH na the Windows OpenSSH client. sshd.exe na the optional OpenSSH Server. Linux `ssh` inside Ubuntu na different file inside the distro (host view: WSL processes / vmmemWSL). To end dis client go drop only dat outbound session.

E safe?
Check the running file path, signature, and publisher. Name alone no fit confirm say e safe.
Same as sshd?
No. Dis na di client
Same as WSL ssh?
No. Dat one na Linux ssh inside the distro
Feex tok say
If I start ssh from PowerShell, I dey expect System32\OpenSSH\ssh.exe. I no dey stop sshd unless dis PC na the server, and I no dey run wsl --shutdown to kill Windows client.

Wetin be ssh.exe?

Dis na the SSH client, no be sshd and no be WSL ssh. The inbox path na System32\OpenSSH\ssh.exe. The server optional feature na sshd. Prompt inside Ubuntu dey use Linux ssh, no be dis image.

Wetin e dey do?

E dey open outbound SSH session. E no dey listen as server and e no dey start WslService.

Wetin make am dey run?

You, Git, VS Code Remote-SSH, or script call the Windows client. Listen on port 22 for dis PC na sshd or anoda server, no be dis process.

Inspect the running instance

Inside Windows PowerShell, this read-only query show matching process IDs, creation times and executable paths on this PC. (pcm)

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Process | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq 'ssh.exe' } | Select-Object ProcessId, ParentProcessId, CreationDate, Name, ExecutablePath | Format-List

No result or a path we no fit access is inconclusive. Protected processes fit restrict access, and process IDs fit be reused. Keep personal paths local. (pcm)

Use the file-identity guide to compare signatures and product metadata. A filename alone no fit establish safety. (pcm)

E dey safe?

Check dis running file

System32\OpenSSH\ssh.exe na Microsoft OpenSSH client. ssh.exe inside Downloads no be am. Dis one still no be sshd and no be /usr/bin/ssh inside WSL.

Compare the recorded location with the actual file. A familiar folder alone no fit establish identity. (pcm)

C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\ssh.exe

  • OpenSSH Client optional feature
  • Server sibling: sshd.exe, no be dis file
  • WSL sibling: Linux ssh inside the distro

I fit end am?

Dey drop dat SSH session

To end ssh.exe dey disconnect dat client. sshd on dis PC fit continue to listen. WSL ssh session na different process inside the distro.

I fit comot am?

Optional features, no be Explorer

Turn OpenSSH Client off from Optional features if you want make e comot. No delete System32\OpenSSH. To uninstall WSL no dey remove dis client. No remove sshd make you for delete the client.

E suppose start with Windows?

Script fit start am. OpenSSH Server autostart na sshd, no be dis client.

Measure resource use

Measure the current process rather than assume a universal baseline
CPU and memory Compare several observations for the same PID and workload. This entry get no independently measured universal baseline. (pcm)
Disk and network Attribute activity to the actual process and current task; a filename alone no fit establish expected destinations or transfer volume. (pcm)

File information

ssh.exe file information
Executable name ssh.exe
Recorded installation path C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\ssh.exe
Publisher Microsoft Corporation
Signature check Inspect the actual file; this entry no dey certify its certificate identity. (pcm)

Common wahala dem

Dem dey disable OpenSSH Server to stop outbound Git fetch

Git call the client. sshd never be dis session at all. End ssh.exe or the Git command.

Remote inside WSL, dem dey end dis Windows ssh.exe

Linux ssh dey inside the distro. Host RAM na vmmemWSL. Dis path na System32\OpenSSH.

How to troubleshoot

Diagnose before you change anything wey fit scatter things.

where.exe ssh and the full path

System32\OpenSSH\ssh.exe na dis article. Path under \\wsl.localhost na WSL ssh. sshd.exe na the server.

Optional features: OpenSSH Client versus OpenSSH Server

Repair the client feature if the exe dey miss. No delete files from System32.

Technical details

Technical details
ssh.exe technical details
Image name ssh.exe
Role Windows OpenSSH client

Check the identity of running file

A filename alone no fit establish safety. Verify the actual path, signature and product identity. (pcm)

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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