How to fix SSH permission denied error while connecting to AWS EC2?

When you try to SSH into an EC2 instance, the .pem key must be readable only by your local machine’s user account .

If you’re on Windows , sometimes the terminal (CMD or PowerShell) doesn’t have the correct permission to read your .pem file.
That’s why SSH throws “Permission denied”.

The fix is simple:

1. Right-click the .pem file ? Properties

2. Go to Security tab

3. Remove all users except your own

4. Make sure your user has Read permission

5. Apply changes

This makes the key “private” so SSH can use it.

After that, your SSH command will work.