CrossShell
CrossShell links two or more Linux and Windows computers on the same network. It sets up SSH in both directions for you, then gives you a terminal, a file manager, port forwards and a remote desktop to the other machine.
SSH (Secure Shell) is the standard way to sign in to another computer and run commands on it over an encrypted connection.
What it does
- SSH both ways, set up for you. CrossShell turns on the operating system's own OpenSSH server, pairs the machines with a 6-digit code, swaps keys and records each machine's identity. Nobody types a password.
- Works outside the app too. After pairing,
ssh <name>works from any terminal, and so do VS Code Remote-SSH, rsync, scp and git. - Terminal, files and port forwards in the app, over that SSH connection.
- Remote desktop. View or control the other screen. It runs through SSH, so it opens no extra ports and needs no third-party server. It works on Windows Home and on Wayland.
Who it is for
Anyone with two computers on one desk: for example a Linux laptop for daily work and a Windows PC for builds or testing. Any mix of Linux and Windows machines works, and a pair can mix processor types (x64 and arm64).
Platforms
- Linux, x64 and arm64
- Windows 10 and 11 on x64, Windows 11 on ARM
What pairing means for security
Pairing gives each machine the ability to sign in to the other over SSH and, if you allow it, to view and control its screen. Pair only with computers you own or trust, and only when both screens show the same code.
CrossShell is made for one local network. Across the internet, put both machines on a VPN first.