Installation
ZestSSH runs on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, with Linux coming soon. This page covers how to get the app installed and what to expect on first launch.
Android
Section titled “Android”Install ZestSSH from the Google Play Store. Search for ZestSSH or use the direct link.
Requirements:
- Android 8.0 (Oreo) or later — API level 26
- ARM64 or x86_64 processor
The minimum SDK target is API 26 because ZestSSH relies on hardware-backed Keystore for secure credential storage, hardware AES acceleration, and FLAG_SECURE support across all OEMs.
Google Play is the only supported distribution channel for Android. Sideloading and third-party stores are not supported.
Windows
Section titled “Windows”Download the ZestSSH installer from zestssh.com/download. ZestSSH ships as an Inno Setup .exe installer.
Requirements:
- Windows 10 64-bit or later
- x86_64 processor
Run the installer and follow the prompts. The installer creates a Start Menu shortcut and optionally a desktop shortcut. No restart is required.
ZestSSH on Windows includes a desktop-optimized shell with a sidebar navigation panel, tab bar, split panes, and a command palette accessible via Ctrl+Shift+P.
Note: MSIX is not actively distributed. Windows uses the Inno Setup .exe installer exclusively.
Download the .dmg file from zestssh.com/download. Open the disk image and drag ZestSSH into your Applications folder.
Requirements:
- macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later
- Apple Silicon (M1+) or Intel x86_64
On first launch, macOS may warn that the app is from an unidentified developer. Right-click the app icon and select Open, then confirm in the dialog. You only need to do this once.
Linux support is coming soon. Desktop builds are enabled in the codebase but Linux is not yet distributed.
Requirements:
- x86_64 processor
- GTK 3.x runtime libraries
- SQLite 3.x shared library
ZestSSH is available on the App Store. Search for ZestSSH or use the direct link.
First-launch checklist
Section titled “First-launch checklist”When you open ZestSSH for the first time, the app runs through a short onboarding wizard (4 pages). After that, here is what you should do before connecting to your first server.
1. Set up a security lock
Section titled “1. Set up a security lock”Go to Settings > Security and configure a PIN, biometric lock, or both. This protects your saved credentials if someone picks up your device. Security lock is a free feature — it is not paywalled.
2. Create or import an SSH key
Section titled “2. Create or import an SSH key”Navigate to Identities and either generate a new key pair (Ed25519 is recommended) or import an existing private key. See Key Management for details.
3. Add your first connection
Section titled “3. Add your first connection”Tap the + button on the home screen (or press Ctrl+T on desktop) and enter your server’s hostname, port, and authentication details. See First Connection for a walkthrough.
4. Import existing connections (optional)
Section titled “4. Import existing connections (optional)”If you are migrating from another SSH client, ZestSSH can import from ~/.ssh/config files and PuTTY saved sessions. See Importing from Other Apps.
5. Configure backups
Section titled “5. Configure backups”Go to Settings > Backups and set a backup password. ZestSSH exports encrypted .zest backup files that you can restore later or transfer to another device. The backup password must be at least 12 characters.
Build and version info
Section titled “Build and version info”The current release is v1.4.3. ZestSSH is built with Flutter and uses Dart SDK 3.10.7+. The database layer is Drift (SQLite) with SQLCipher encryption.
You can check your installed version in Settings > About.