How to use SSH for secure connections on Mac

Written By Bhaskar Reviewed By How-to Mac 6 Min Read

Things to know

  • Turn on Remote Login to access your Mac from another computer via SSH.
  • You can access a server on a public IP address via SSH.
  • Use SSH if you work on unsecured networks.
  • To configure SSH on Mac:
    • The IP address of the remote server is required.
    • You should have the username and password of a user on the server.

SSH is typically used for logging into a remote machine and executing commands. Additionally, it also supports tunneling, TCP port forwarding, and X11 connections. SSH works on a client-server model; it is present on your Mac but is, by default, deactivated.

In this article, I’ll help you understand how you can use SSH for secure connections on Mac running macOS Ventura or earlier.

Quick Links

What is SSH for Mac?

SSH is an acronym for “Secure Shell” or “Secure Socket Shell”. It is essentially a cryptographic network protocol used for network, operating systems, and configuration management. Its most prominent feature is that it employs secure remote communication across unprotected open networks, which is enabled through SSH keys. SSH keys are produced using a security algorithm.

When creating a set of SSH keys for your Mac, you will create a “public” and “private” key. It’s all pretty technical, but the public and private keys are created using prime numbers and huge random numbers. Now, let’s figure out how we can set up SSH on Mac

How to configure SSH server in macOS

Let’s check the process of activating SSH based on your Mac.

macOS Ventura or later

  1. Click the Apple logo () from the menu bar.
  2. Open System Settings

    To configure SSH server on Mac, Click on Apple Logo, Go to System Settings
  3. Head to General Apple Settings App → Sharing.

    Now head to General, tap on Sharing
  4. Toggle on Remote Login.

    Toggle on Remote Login
  5. Now, click the info (i) icon.
  6. You must check the Allow full disk access for remote users in Remote Login and specify which users can log in.
    • All users: Anyone with access to your computer or network can log in.
    • Only these users: Only the users you authorise will be able to log in remotely.

      Now, click the info (i) icon, allow full disk access for remote users in Remote Login

Congratulations! The SSH server is now enabled on your macOS Ventura, and you should be able to receive inbound SSH connections through your Mac.

Note: Under Remote Login, you can find the IP address of your Mac.

macOS Monterey or earlier

  1. Head to the Apple logo () from the menu bar.
  2. Launch System Preferences → General Apple Settings App → go to Sharing.
  3. Check the box next to Remote Login.
  4. Now, check the box next to Allow full disk access for remote users and specify which users can log in.

    macOS Monterey or earlier, check the box next to Allow full disk access for remote users

Your SSH server is live now!

How to connect SSH to Mac via another Mac

To access your Mac from another remote Mac or an SSH client, follow the steps outlined below.

  1. Launch Terminal or another SSH client on Mac.
  2. Enter your Mac’s IP address → press return.
    For example, ssh [email protected].
  3. Provide your Password → hit return.

How to turn off SSH Server on Mac

If you no longer wish to remotely access your Mac through an SSH client, you may disable the SSH servers on your Mac by following the steps below.

macOS Ventura

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Head to General → Sharing.
  3. Toggle off Remote Login.

macOS Monterey

  1. Navigate to System Preferences → click Sharing.
  2. Uncheck the box next to Remote Login.
Q. How can I tell if someone is looking at my computer remotely?

Look through the list of recently used files and data. On Macs, you can easily see a list of your most regularly accessed files as well as your most recently used apps. If you see anything out of the ordinary in these listings, it’s conceivable that someone has gotten access to your Mac.

Q. Can someone access my Mac remotely without me knowing?

Yes, someone may remotely access your Mac without your knowledge since Macs are vulnerable to hacking. If SSH is enabled, anyone with administrator credentials can potentially execute code that could result in a total takeover of your Mac.

Wrapping up…

I hope this article has helped you to understand what SSH is and how to use it on your Mac. It’s relatively common to get stuck while using SSH on Mac, so if you do, please leave a comment. I’d be delighted to assist you.

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By Bhaskar Content Writer
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Bhaskar is a tech guru who turned wordsmith. Hiding his B.Tech degree in a closet, he ditched the corporate path to simplify tech for everyone. For the past 5 years, he's been dishing out how-tos, reviews, and sharp insights. But there's more! He's a witty interview champ and has been sharing his wisdom for 3 years. Furthermore, he has honed his editing skills for 1.5 years and is now delving into marketing to assist newcomers. When not jamming his fingers on those mechanical keyboards, you may find him on strings or engaging in sports. And by evening, his quotes will be appearing on your Instagram feeds.
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