How to SSH into an EC2 Instance Using Windows 10's Built-in SSH Client

If you're using Windows 10, you don't need PuTTY to SSH into an AWS EC2 instance. Windows 10 includes a built-in SSH client, allowing you to connect directly using PowerShell or Command Prompt. This guide will walk you through setting up and troubleshooting SSH access.

Step 1: Check If SSH is Available

1. Open PowerShell (Press Win + X → Select PowerShell).

2. Type:

   ssh
   

   • If you see SSH options listed, it's installed.
   • If not, you'll need to use PuTTY (covered in the previous lesson).

Alternatively, open Command Prompt (cmd) and type:

ssh

If SSH is installed, you're good to go.

Step 2: Navigate to the Directory Containing Your PEM File

1. Open PowerShell.

2. Move to the directory where your .pem file is stored (e.g., Desktop):

   cd .\Desktop
   

3. Verify the file is present by listing files:

You should see EC2Tutorial.pem (or the name of your key file).

```powershell
ls
```

Step 3: Connect to the EC2 Instance

1. Use the following command format:

   ssh -i "EC2Tutorial.pem" ec2-user@your-instance-public-ip
   

   • Replace your-instance-public-ip with your EC2 instance’s public IPv4 address.

   • Example:

     ssh -i "EC2Tutorial.pem" [email protected]
     

2. First-time connection warning:

   You might see:

   The authenticity of host ... can't be established. Do you want to continue? (yes/no)
   

   • Type yes and press Enter.

3. You're now inside the EC2 instance! 🎉