All Mac computers come with an integrated SSH server that is disabled by default, but it can be activated anytime when remote command line access to the device is needed.

The SSH functionality in MacOS is enabled through a feature called Remote Login. Once Remote Login is turned on, both SSH and SFTP services become available for remote connections to the Mac.

How to Activate the SSH Server on a Mac Running MacOS Ventura 13 or Later

Activating the SSH service in newer MacOS versions involves adjusting settings within the system:

1. Click the ? Apple menu and navigate to “System Settings”
2. Open the “General” preference panel
3. Navigate to “General”
4. Toggle the switch labeled “Remote Login” to activate the SSH server
5. Optionally, though advised, click the (i) icon to configure user permissions and enable full shell access by selecting “Allow full disk access for remote users”
6. The SSH server will start immediately, allowing the Mac to accept incoming SSH connections

How to Enable the SSH Server on a Mac with MacOS Monterey or Older Versions

For earlier MacOS versions, turning on the SSH server is handled via System Preferences:

1. Open the ? Apple menu and go to “System Preferences”
2. Go to the “Sharing” preference pane
3. Tick the checkbox for “Remote Login” to activate the SSH server
4. It’s recommended, especially for those seeking full shell capabilities, to also tick the box for “Allow full disk access for remote users”
5. The SSH service is now running, and you may connect using any SSH client

You can connect to the Mac from any operating system using its respective SSH client—whether it's Terminal on another Mac, PuTTY on Windows, a terminal on Linux, or an SSH app on iPhone, Android, etc.

Connecting to the Mac Remotely Using SSH

After enabling Remote Login, take note of the IP address shown below the setting. It also displays the exact SSH command syntax to use: “ssh username@IP-address”

For instance, if the username is “Paul” and the IP address is 192.168.0.108, the command would be:

ssh paul@192.168.0.108

This command can be executed in the Terminal app on another Mac or any SSH client across different platforms and devices.

Once logged in, you’re able to perform tasks remotely as if you were directly at the machine.

How to Disable the SSH Server on a Mac

To deactivate the SSH server in macOS, simply disable the feature in the preferences:

1. From the ? Apple menu, choose “System Preferences”
2. Open the “Sharing” preference panel
3. Uncheck “Remote Login” to stop the SSH server

Advanced users may alternatively choose to enable SSH through the command line if preferred. Whether done via the GUI or Terminal, the outcome remains the same—the SSH server on the Mac is now active and ready to handle remote connections.

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