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Guide · Open source

How to use electerm: install, connect over SSH and transfer files

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

electerm is a free, MIT-licensed desktop client for terminals and remote connections. It covers SSH, SFTP, FTP and Telnet, and its README also lists serial port, RDP, VNC and Spice. This guide walks through installing it, opening a connection and transferring files, so you can manage remote machines from one window.

electermelecterm/electerm · ★ 15.5k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Install electerm. Run the install command for your platform, such as brew install --cask electerm on Mac or winget install electerm.electerm on Windows.
  2. 2Start the app. Open electerm from your applications menu or start it from the terminal.
  3. 3Add a remote connection. Create a connection with the host, port and username of the server you want to reach.
  4. 4Choose an auth method. Pick a public key, password, SSH agent, certificate or OTP, depending on how the server is set up.
  5. 5Open a terminal session. Connect and work in the shell tab that opens.
  6. 6Transfer files. Use SFTP or FTP from the session to move files, or double-click a small remote file to edit it.

Install electerm on Mac, Linux or Windows

electerm is published for Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, HarmonyOS and iOS. The README lists package-manager installs for each desktop platform, so pick the one that matches your system.

On Windows you can also use the Microsoft Store or scoop. On Linux, the README points to the Snap Store, the Debian repository, and the tar.gz or AppImage releases if the packaged versions do not work on your distribution.

  • Mac (Homebrew): run the command below
  • Linux (Snap): run the command below
  • Windows (winget): run the command below
  • npm (global): run the command below if you already use Node.js
brew install --cask electerm sudo snap install electerm --classic winget install electerm.electerm npm i -g electerm

Open your first SSH connection

electerm works as a terminal and remote client. After you start it, you add a connection for a remote server and open a shell on it. The README supports SSH with several authentication methods, including public key, password, SSH agent, certificates, OTP and netbird.

You can also open connections from a URL. The README gives examples such as ssh://user@host:22 and telnet://192.168.2.31:34554. The deep link wiki page describes the details.

  • Choose the protocol (for example SSH or Telnet) for the new connection
  • Enter the host, port and username
  • Select an auth method such as a key, password or SSH agent
  • Connect and work in the terminal tab

Transfer files with SFTP and FTP

electerm can transfer files alongside your terminal sessions, using SFTP and FTP as described in the README. Double-clicking a small remote file opens it for direct editing.

The README also lists Zmodem (rz, sz) and Trzsz (trz, tsz) support for transfers over an existing shell.

  • SFTP and FTP file transfer
  • Double-click to edit small remote files
  • Zmodem (rz, sz) and Trzsz (trz, tsz) support

Use tunnels, jump hosts and proxies

For SSH work, the README lists tunnels and connection hopping. You can also set a global or per-session proxy. These help when a server is only reachable through another machine.

  • SSH tunnels
  • Connection hopping (jump hosts)
  • Global or session proxy

Sync bookmarks and customise the interface

electerm can sync bookmarks and related data to GitHub, Gitee secret gist, WebDAV, a custom server or electerm cloud. You can change the look with themes, a background image and, on Mac and Windows, a transparent window.

A global hotkey toggles the window, with ctrl + 2 as the default in the README. The interface is available in several languages.

  • Sync to GitHub, Gitee secret gist, WebDAV, a custom server or electerm cloud
  • Themes, background image and transparent window (Mac, Windows)
  • Global hotkey, default ctrl + 2
  • Multi-language interface

Keep electerm up to date

electerm can notify you of a new version the next time you start it, and you can upgrade from that prompt. You can also download the latest release and reinstall, or upgrade through npm if you installed that way.

What people use it for

  • Manage several remote Linux servers from one client with multiple terminal tabs
  • Move files to and from a server over SFTP while running commands in the same session
  • Reach an internal server through a jump host or SSH tunnel
  • Connect to network devices over Telnet or a serial port
  • Keep bookmarks in sync across machines through GitHub, WebDAV or electerm cloud

Frequently asked questions

Is electerm free?

Yes. The README lists electerm under the MIT licence, which is a permissive open-source licence. The source does not list any paid tier.

What operating systems does electerm support?

The README lists Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, HarmonyOS and iOS. It also says older systems such as Windows 7, Ubuntu 18.04 and macOS 10.15 and later are supported, along with several Linux distributions.

How do I install electerm on Mac?

Run brew install --cask electerm with Homebrew. The README gives this as the Mac install method.

Does electerm support SFTP and FTP?

Yes. The README lists SFTP and FTP file transfer alongside terminal sessions, and it also mentions Zmodem and Trzsz for transfers.

What are the alternatives to electerm?

The source names Tabby, MobaXterm, PuTTY and WindTerm as comparable projects. Choose based on the protocols, platforms and licence you need.

Why does the Snap or RPM package not work on my Linux system?

The README says some Linux distributions may not work with the rpm, deb or snap releases. It suggests trying the tar.gz or AppImage release instead.

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Our verdict

electerm suits developers and sysadmins who manage several remote servers and want a free, open-source client that covers SSH, SFTP and FTP in one place. If you only need a basic local terminal or a minimal tool, or you need a vendor support contract, the README does not describe one and a simpler or commercially supported client may suit you better.

Install options & downloads