SSH Display Forwarding (X11)

Secure Shell can use a local X11/Xorg server to forward applications windows.

You'll need a local X11 server. Options include

• For macOS, Xquartz
• For Win, MobaXterm (for UPMC managed computers, see local MobaXterm notes) or Xming
• Prerequisites (Xwayland or Xorg) are likely already available when already on Linux or Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Use -Y or -X with your ssh connection command to enable display forwarding.

ssh -Y $USERNAME@$REMOTEHOST

You can make this the default in ~/.ssh/config using ForwardX11 and ForwardX11Trusted directives. Note: Host * is for all hosts. You might want to replace * with a single or list of specific ssh servers.

Host *
   # we don't need to encrypt X11 (faster)
   ForwardX11 yes
   ForwardX11Trusted yes