SSH To Raspberry Pi Behind Firewall On Windows? [Solved!]

Arda

29 Apr, 2025

Are you wrestling with the complexities of remotely accessing your Raspberry Pi, especially when it's tucked behind a firewall and you're working on a Windows system? The ability to SSH into your Raspberry Pi, even through a firewall, is not only achievable but also offers a world of possibilities for managing your devices and projects from anywhere in the world.

The task of establishing a secure connection to your Raspberry Pi via SSH, while navigating the obstacles posed by firewalls, can seem daunting, particularly if you're new to the intricacies of networking. The very concept of remote access, a hallmark of the modern digital landscape, hinges on your ability to establish a reliable and secure connection. For many, this journey begins with a Raspberry Pi, a compact and adaptable single-board computer, whose potential is unleashed when you can remotely manage it.

The cornerstone of remote access to your Raspberry Pi is the Secure Shell protocol, or SSH. This powerful tool enables you to connect to your device from a distance, offering a secure channel for command-line interactions. But in order to access it, the firewall needs to cooperate.

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The primary hurdle to overcome is the firewall, a vital security component that acts as a gatekeeper for your network, controlling the flow of incoming and outgoing traffic. Its function is to scrutinize and filter data packets, rejecting any that don't align with the network's security protocols. This protective measure, while essential for safeguarding your network, can impede your efforts to establish a remote SSH connection. The typical solution is to modify the firewall configuration so that it will allow the incoming SSH traffic. This is generally done with port forwarding.

To facilitate the remote access, you'll need to understand how to configure your router for port forwarding. This crucial step tells your router to direct incoming traffic on a specific port (usually port 22, the standard SSH port) to your Raspberry Pi. Port forwarding is essentially a mapping mechanism, redirecting external requests to the internal IP address of your Raspberry Pi. This IP address will be your local network IP.

Heres what you generally need to do:

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Identify your Raspberry Pi's local IP address: You can find this within your Raspberry Pi's operating system (e.g., using the `ifconfig` command in the terminal) or by checking your router's connected devices list.
Access your router's configuration: This usually involves typing your router's IP address into a web browser (e.g., 192.168.1.1) and logging in with your router's credentials. These are usually found on the bottom of your router or in the documentation that came with it.
Navigate to the port forwarding settings: The exact location varies depending on your router's make and model, but look for sections labeled "Port Forwarding," "Virtual Servers," or similar.
Create a new port forwarding rule: You'll need to enter the following information:
- Service or Application Name: "SSH" or a descriptive name.
- Port: Typically, 22 (the standard SSH port).
- Internal IP Address: Your Raspberry Pi's local IP address.
- Protocol: TCP (for SSH).
- Save the rule: Apply the changes to your router's configuration.

With port forwarding set up, any external traffic arriving at your router on port 22 is forwarded to your Raspberry Pi, allowing you to connect via SSH. It is important to ensure that SSH is enabled on your Raspberry Pi. You can also choose a different port for security reasons.

To successfully connect via SSH, you must first ensure that SSH is enabled on your Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi OS, by default, has SSH disabled to enhance security. Enabling it is a straightforward process involving the following steps:

Connect to Your Raspberry Pi: Connect your Raspberry Pi to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Open the Terminal: Launch the terminal application from the Raspberry Pi OS interface.
Run the Configuration Tool: Execute the command `sudo raspi-config` in the terminal. This powerful utility helps you configure various settings on your Raspberry Pi.
Navigate to Interfacing Options: In the raspi-config menu, use the arrow keys to navigate to the "Interfacing Options" menu.
Enable SSH: Within the "Interfacing Options," find and select the "SSH" option.
Confirm SSH Enablement: The system will prompt you to enable SSH. Confirm your choice by selecting "Yes."
Exit and Reboot: After enabling SSH, exit the raspi-config menu and consider rebooting your Raspberry Pi to ensure that the changes take effect.

Another thing you need to consider is the firewall on your Windows system. To ensure that you can SSH into your Raspberry Pi from your Windows machine, you must ensure that the Windows Firewall is not blocking SSH traffic. Here's how:

Open Windows Firewall: Search for "Windows Defender Firewall" in the Windows search bar and open it.
Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall: Click on "Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall."
Check for SSH: In the list of allowed apps, look for "OpenSSH Client" and "OpenSSH Server". If these are not present, then add them with "Allow another app" option.
Ensure SSH is Allowed: Make sure the "OpenSSH Client" and "OpenSSH Server" are enabled for both "Private" and "Public" networks.
Save Changes: Click "OK" to save the changes and close the Windows Firewall settings.

After you have completed those steps, you're ready to try to connect to your Raspberry Pi via SSH. Here's how to do that, including how to use PuTTY, a popular SSH client for Windows:

Download and Install an SSH Client (if needed): If you're not using the built-in SSH client on Windows, download and install an SSH client like PuTTY from a trusted source.
Open Your SSH Client: Launch PuTTY (or your chosen SSH client).
Enter Your Raspberry Pi's Information: In the SSH client, enter the following information:
- Host Name (or IP address): Enter your public IP address. You can find your public IP address by searching "what is my ip" in a search engine. If your external IP address is dynamic, you may need to use a dynamic DNS service.
- Port: Enter the port you forwarded on your router (usually 22).
- Connection Type: Select "SSH."
Click "Open" to Connect: Click the "Open" button to initiate the SSH connection.
Accept the Security Warning: If this is your first time connecting to your Raspberry Pi, you might be prompted to accept the host key. Click "Yes" to proceed.
Enter Your Credentials: You'll be prompted for your username and password for your Raspberry Pi. Enter these credentials. Remember your username and password.
Start Using SSH: Once logged in successfully, you'll see the command prompt, which means you've successfully established an SSH connection.

While port forwarding is a commonly used method, there are alternative approaches you might consider:

VPN (Virtual Private Network): A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and your home network. Once connected to the VPN, your device appears to be on the same local network as your Raspberry Pi, making SSH access straightforward.
SSH Tunneling: SSH tunneling allows you to forward traffic through an SSH connection, which can be useful for accessing services on your Raspberry Pi that are not directly exposed.

Remember, the specific steps will depend on your router's make and model and your network configuration. Always prioritize security when configuring remote access, and consider using strong passwords and, for added security, implementing key-based authentication rather than password authentication. You might want to add the extra security measure of setting up a dynamic DNS service as your public IP address can change. This will make it easier to connect.

Consider these additional tips to ensure your success:

Test Locally First: Before trying to connect from outside your network, verify that you can SSH into your Raspberry Pi from another device on your local network.
Check Your Public IP Address: Make sure you know your public IP address. You can find this by searching "what is my IP" on any search engine.
Troubleshooting: If you encounter issues, double-check all the configurations, starting with the SSH server on the Raspberry Pi and the port forwarding settings on your router. Confirm that your firewall is allowing the connection.
Security Best Practices: Keep your Raspberry Pi's software updated, use strong passwords, and consider using SSH keys for authentication for added security.

The ability to access your Raspberry Pi via SSH, even when concealed behind a firewall on a Windows system, unlocks a vast range of possibilities for remote management and project development. By following these steps, understanding the principles of port forwarding, and prioritizing security, you can confidently establish a secure and efficient remote connection to your Raspberry Pi.

Topic	Details
Purpose	Remote Access and Management of Raspberry Pi
Core Concept	SSH (Secure Shell) for secure remote access
Primary Challenge	Firewall configuration and port forwarding
Main Goal	Establish a secure SSH connection from a Windows system to a Raspberry Pi behind a firewall.
Steps Involved	Configuring SSH on the Raspberry Pi, port forwarding on the router, and firewall adjustments.
Tools and Software	SSH client (e.g., PuTTY), router configuration interface, Raspberry Pi OS terminal.
Security Measures	Strong passwords, key-based authentication (recommended).
Alternative Methods	VPN, SSH tunneling.
Additional Considerations	Dynamic DNS for devices with dynamic IP addresses.