ssh-copy-id tool on Windows

Submitted by itefix on Fri, 29/11/2024 - 15:01

Copssh client versions 8 and higher supports ssh-copy-id tool

Create a test key pair


bin\ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -f test

Generating public/private ed25519 key pair.
Enter passphrase for "test" (empty for no passphrase):
Enter same passphrase again:
Your identification has been saved in test
Your public key has been saved in test.pub

Get help


bin\bash --login -c "ssh-copy-id -?"

Usage: /bin/ssh-copy-id [-h|-?|-f|-n|-s] [-i [identity_file]] [-p port] [-F alternative ssh_config file] [[-o <ssh -o options>] ...] [user@]hostname
        -f: force mode -- copy keys without trying to check if they are already installed
        -n: dry run    -- no keys are actually copied
        -s: use sftp   -- use sftp instead of executing remote-commands. Can be useful if the remote only allows sftp
        -h|-?: print this help

Transfer the public key (dry mode)


bin\bash --login -c "ssh-copy-id -n -i ./test a@localhost"

/bin/ssh-copy-id: INFO: Source of key(s) to be installed: "./test.pub"
/bin/ssh-copy-id: INFO: attempting to log in with the new key(s), to filter out any that are already installed
/bin/ssh-copy-id: INFO: 1 key(s) remain to be installed -- if you are prompted now it is to install the new keys
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Would have added the following key(s):

ssh-ed25519 AAAA.....GG80e user@host
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Transfer the public key

bin\bash --login -c "ssh-copy-id -i ./test a@localhost"

/bin/ssh-copy-id: INFO: Source of key(s) to be installed: "./test.pub"
/bin/ssh-copy-id: INFO: attempting to log in with the new key(s), to filter out any that are already installed
/bin/ssh-copy-id: INFO: 1 key(s) remain to be installed -- if you are prompted now it is to install the new keys
a@localhost's password:

Number of key(s) added: 1

Now try logging into the machine, with:   "ssh 'a@localhost'"
and check to make sure that only the key(s) you wanted were added.

Transfer the same key once again!


bin\bash --login -c "ssh-copy-id -i ./test a@localhost"

/bin/ssh-copy-id: INFO: Source of key(s) to be installed: "./test.pub"
/bin/ssh-copy-id: INFO: attempting to log in with the new key(s), to filter out any that are already installed

/bin/ssh-copy-id: WARNING: All keys were skipped because they already exist on the remote system.
                (if you think this is a mistake, you may want to use -f option)