Installation

ZestSSH runs on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. This page covers how to get the app installed and what to expect on first launch.

Android

Google Play

The recommended way to install on Android. Search for ZestSSH in the Google Play Store, or use the direct link on the ZestSSH website.

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.

Sideloading

If you cannot use Google Play, you can download the APK directly from the ZestSSH website or GitHub releases page. You will need to enable “Install from unknown sources” in your Android settings.

Note that sideloaded installs do not receive automatic updates. You will need to download and install new APKs manually.

Windows

ZestSSH ships as an Inno Setup .exe installer. Download it from the ZestSSH website or GitHub releases.

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+K.

Note: MSIX is not actively distributed. Windows uses the Inno Setup .exe installer exclusively.

macOS

Download the .dmg file from the ZestSSH website or GitHub releases. 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

Linux is supported. Download the build from the ZestSSH website.

Requirements:

x86_64 processor
GTK 3.x runtime libraries
SQLite 3.x shared library

iOS

ZestSSH is available on the App Store. Search for ZestSSH or use the direct link.

First-launch checklist

When you open ZestSSH for the first time, the app shows a short first-run screen (“Let’s get you connected”) that offers four ways to add your servers — import from your ~/.ssh/config, scan the local network for SSH hosts, restore from sync, or add one manually. Pick any of these or tap Skip for now. See Importing from Other Apps for the import and scan flows. After that, here is what you should do before connecting to your first server.

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

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

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)

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

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

The current release is v1.7.2. 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.