> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hivenet.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How can I connect to a Compute instance from Windows?

> From first SSH login to a working prompt

## What you’ll need

* A Compute instance created via the Hivenet dashboard
* Your SSH private key
* Windows Terminal or another SSH-capable terminal (like PowerShell)
* A configured `config` file (optional but helpful)

## Step 1 – Get your instance ID

When you create a Compute instance, you'll receive a unique ID that looks like:

```
ba184ade-84ed-4047-90bb-ca3b76e84246
```

Use this to build your SSH HostName:

```
ba184ade-84ed-4047-90bb-ca3b76e84246.ssh.hivecompute.ai
```

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/hivenet/mLezzebsIpBXrTeY/images/connect-instance-windows-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=mLezzebsIpBXrTeY&q=85&s=5e634bc7f9477f57deb171b14579a8cc" alt="Connect Instance Windows 1 Pn" width="2290" height="1245" data-path="images/connect-instance-windows-1.png" />

## Step 2 – Connect

**Fastest option (recommended)**

1. In the dashboard go to **Instance → Connectivity options → SSH**.
2. Click **Copy to terminal to connect**.
3. Paste the command into your terminal and hit Enter.
   * The command already includes your instance ID and user.
   * It only works if you’ve added the “Add this to your SSH/config file” snippet shown right below the command.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/hivenet/mLezzebsIpBXrTeY/images/connect-instance-windows-gif.gif?s=c8831e4084e8f4e8309612a9edf8e19c" alt="Connect Instance Windows Gif Gi" width="400" height="175" data-path="images/connect-instance-windows-gif.gif" />

**Build the command yourself**

```
ssh ubuntu@<your-instance-id>.ssh.hivecompute.ai
```

Replace `<your-instance-id>` with the ID you copied in Step 1.

\*\*If you’ve created a Host entry in \*\*`~/.ssh/config`

```
ssh hivenet
```

## Step 3 – Use a ProxyCommand if needed

Some connections require a jump host (a "bastion") for access. If you're getting timeouts, try this:

```
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 -o "ProxyCommand ssh bastion@ssh.hivecompute.ai %h" ubuntu@<your-instance-id>.ssh.hivecompute.ai
```

<Note>
  You may need to replace `id_ed25519` if your key has a different name.
</Note>

This creates a secure tunnel from your machine to the instance through Hivenet’s bastion.

## Step 4 – Confirm your connection

If everything works, you'll land in a Linux shell on your instance. You can now:

* Install packages
* Clone repos
* Run workloads
* Start your apps (like Fooocus, Jupyter, etc.)

## Troubleshooting

* **Terminal closes immediately** — Run your SSH command from an open terminal window instead of double-clicking a file.
* **Connection timed out** — Add `-v` to get detailed output and check for network issues.
* **Permission denied** — Check that your SSH key matches what you uploaded in the Compute dashboard.
* **Bad Gateway** — You may be trying to access a web app before it’s started. Use `curl localhost:<port>` to confirm it's running.