# ssh.exe

Windows Process: Microsoft Corporation

Catalog search terms ssh, openssh client, windows ssh

Windows, System 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](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/verify-executable-path-signature/) 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

| 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

| 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

| 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)

## Related

Dis entities connect to dis article. Type dey show for every link.

[wsl.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/wsl.exe/)[cmd.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/cmd.exe/)[pwsh.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/pwsh.exe/)[Check an executable path and digital signature: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/verify-executable-path-signature/)[Read Task Manager and compare process activity: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager/)[Windows processes: Category](https://feex.it/wiki/process/windows/)

## Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. [How we dey do research](https://feex.it/wiki/research/).

- [Microsoft Learn: OpenSSH overview ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh-overview)· Windows dey ship with OpenSSH client and optional server
- [Microsoft Learn: OpenSSH client ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh-client)· ssh.exe na the client inside System32\OpenSSH
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.
- [Microsoft Sysinternals: Sigcheck ](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/sigcheck)· Dey explain how to check file signatures. Dis reference no establish the identity or safety of any particular running file.
- [Microsoft: Get-CimInstance ](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/cimcmdlets/get-ciminstance)· Read-only local process-query method. (pcm)
- [Microsoft: Win32_Process properties ](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/cimwin32prov/win32-process)· Documents process IDs, executable paths, creation dates and parent-ID reuse. (pcm)

## Dis article make sense to you?

Yes or no dey enough. Choose reason if you want, or add short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of dis page. Specs, sources, and the full story still dey inside the article.

- **Type**: Windows Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: ssh.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\ssh.exe

  **Record context**: Feex Wiki reference entry

Recorded source status: Feex Reviewed: Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification.

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/ssh.exe/)

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