How do I find my Windows profile and .ssh folder?
Your local .ssh directory normally sits inside your Windows profile. Use the environment variable for the current Windows account rather than assuming a fixed username or drive. This is separate from the server account’s home directory.
Instructions
1. Find the profile in PowerShell
Inspect the local account’s profile path and list its SSH directory if it exists.
$env:USERPROFILE
Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath "$env:USERPROFILE\.ssh" -Force-Force includes hidden entries. Listing filenames does not display private-key contents.
2. Use the CMD equivalent when appropriate
These commands belong in Command Prompt. The /d option changes drive as well as directory.
cd /d "%USERPROFILE%"
dir /a ".ssh"The listing may include config, known_hosts, public keys and private-key filenames.
3. Check which account owns the shell
An elevated shell opened as a different administrator can have a different profile. Keep your personal login key in the intended user context; do not copy private keys into shared application folders.
whoamiCompare the current Windows identity with the profile you expected.
Check the result
- The profile path belongs to the Windows account you intend to use.
- The expected key and configuration filenames are visible.
Troubleshooting
- The .ssh directory does not exist
- No key or host record may have been created for this account yet. Absence alone is not a Windows fault.
- The key is in a different profile
- Use the correct account or an authorised explicit path; do not loosen another user’s permissions.
Official references
Use the documentation for your installed version when a flag, service name or platform feature differs.