Turn your phone into an SSH server with Termux, connect to a computer over SSH, and share files

infoivonblog.nkfjt@aleeas.com (Ivon Huang) — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:50:46 +0800

This article introduces how to install OpenSSH with Termux on an Android phone, and log in to your own computer or a remote host via SSH.

Termux can also run an SSH server on the phone, then let you log in to the phone through an SSH client on a computer. This can be used to transfer files, achieve SMB-like file sharing, or automatically synchronize files between two devices with Rsync.

The benefit of these tools is that their ports are shared with SSH, and SSH encrypted communication can improve transfer security.

Incidentally, KDE Connect, which connects phones and computers, also uses SSH. If you do not like typing commands, you can try the KDE Connect app first.

1. Install OpenSSH
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1.1. Phone side
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Please read first: How to Use Termux

Install OpenSSH in Termux, including client and server:

pkg install openssh

Termux’s virtual user account is always user. Enter this command, type a password of 4 or more digits, and press Enter:

passwd

Then run this command in Termux to start the SSH server.

sshd

Since SSHD closes after you exit Termux, you can add SSHD to .profile, so starting Termux automatically starts the SSH server:

echo "sshd" >> ~/.profile

1.2. Computer side
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Install the OpenSSH client and server on the computer.

On Linux/MacOS, install OpenSSH from the package manager. On Windows, refer to Microsoft’s documentation to install OpenSSH.

Do not forget to open port 22 in the firewall.

2. Start SSH connections
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First, connect the computer and phone to the same Wi-Fi.

Next, run the following commands on the computer to get the computer’s local IP,

# Linux, MacOS:
ifconfig

# Windows:
ipconfig

The computer’s local IP is shown in the red box below; my computer’s local IP is 192.168.1.103:

Run this command in Termux on the phone to get the local IP:

ifconfig

The phone’s local IP is shown in the red box below; my phone’s local IP is 192.168.1.101:

2.1. SSH from the phone to the computer
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Enter the command in Termux on the phone to connect to the computer.

# [user account@computer IP] [port]
ssh ivon@192.168.1.103 -p 22

Enter yes to continue, then enter the user password
After successfully logging in to the computer, you will enter the shell. Enter exit to quit.

2.2. SSH from the computer to the phone
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Phones usually do not have firewall issues, but note that Termux’s SSH server port is 8022.

Open a terminal on the computer and SSH to the phone:

# [user account@phone IP] [port]
ssh user@192.168.1.101 -p 8022

Enter yes to continue, then enter the user password. You will then see Termux’s welcome message, which means login succeeded.

3. Transfer files through SSH SCP
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In Termux Usage, I mentioned the termux-setup-storage command. It mounts the phone’s “internal storage” under Termux’s storage directory. What does this mean? We can access the phone’s files from Termux, including photos and documents, and transfer files back and forth with the computer through the SCP command.

OpenSSH on Ivon's Blog

Turn your phone into an SSH server with Termux, connect to a computer over SSH, and share files

1. Install OpenSSH #

1.1. Phone side #

1.2. Computer side #

2. Start SSH connections #

2.1. SSH from the phone to the computer #

2.2. SSH from the computer to the phone #