Getting started

DR-Terminal is an SSH/SFTP client for Android, Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and iOS. Below is the shortest path to a working shell.

Quick Connect — one-off session

  1. From the sidebar pick Quick Connect (SSH).
  2. Enter user, host, port (default 22).
  3. Choose auth: password, private key, or security key (YubiKey).
  4. Press Connect. On first use you'll see the host key fingerprint — confirming adds it to your trusted hosts.

Quick Connect does not persist. For hosts you keep returning to, add them to the SSH Connections list.

Saved connection

  1. Sidebar → SSH Connections → Add.
  2. Fill name (alias), host, port, user, auth method.
  3. Optionally assign a group, set a default SFTP directory, add a start script, or pick a jump host.
  4. Save. The row appears on the list — tap to open a terminal.

First connection and host trust

The first time you reach an unknown server DR-Terminal shows a dialog with the host's public key fingerprint (SHA-256). After confirming, the key is stored in the trusted hosts database and verified on later logins. If it ever changes, you'll get a clear warning — worth checking why (planned rebuild, new install, MITM attempt).

Where your password goes

Passwords and private keys never land in JSON config files. Each platform uses its native secure store: Android Keystore (EncryptedSharedPreferences), iOS Keychain, and an AES-256-GCM file on Desktop. Details in Security & data.

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SSH connections