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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To set up SSH key authentication on a Mac, create a key pair in Terminal, protect the private key with a passphrase, add it to macOS’s SSH agent and Keychain, then authorize the matching public key with the remote account or service. Creating a key does not grant access by itself. For routine SSH logins, keys avoid repeatedly sending a reusable account password—but the private key needs protection, and password-based recovery may still be necessary.
What SSH keys do—and what they do not do
SSH uses a pair of related keys. The private key stays on your Mac and proves your identity; the public key is installed with the remote account or service you want to access. When the server accepts the matching key, you can authenticate without entering that account’s password for each login.
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Never share or upload the private key. When a service asks for an SSH key, it normally wants the contents of the file ending in .pub. A strong passphrase protects the private key if someone obtains the file. It is different from your remote account password: the passphrase unlocks the local key, while the public-key exchange authenticates to the remote service.
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Keys are not a reason to assume passwords should never be used anywhere. You may still need an account password for recovery or other access methods. And a key cannot protect you if your Mac or an unprotected private key is compromised.
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How to create an SSH key on a Mac
1. Check for keys before generating one
Open Terminal and list the files in your SSH directory:
ls -la ~/.sshIf you already have a working key, do not overwrite it. The usual Ed25519 key pair uses id_ed25519 and id_ed25519.pub. If those files exist, choose a distinct filename when generating a new key.
2. Generate an Ed25519 key pair
For a new key using the default filename, run:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[email protected]"Replace the example with an identifying email or label. When prompted for a file location, accept the default only if it will not replace a key you need; otherwise enter a new path, such as /Users/yourname/.ssh/id_ed25519_work. Enter a strong passphrase when prompted. The command creates a private key and its corresponding .pub public key.
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These steps follow GitHub’s Ed25519 key-generation guidance; other SSH services can accept the same key type, but their authorization steps may differ. See GitHub’s guide to generating an SSH key and adding it to the agent.
Add the key to the macOS agent and Keychain
The SSH agent can hold an unlocked key for use by SSH clients. macOS Keychain can remember the key’s passphrase so you do not have to enter it every time. For a key with the default filename, run:
ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ~/.ssh/id_ed25519If you chose a different filename, substitute that path. GitHub also documents these settings in the SSH client configuration file ~/.ssh/config for its own host:
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Host github.com
AddKeysToAgent yes
UseKeychain yes
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519For another destination, change Host to its hostname and IdentityFile to your actual private-key path. Do not copy the GitHub host line unchanged for a different server. GitHub notes that macOS’s bundled ssh-add supports the --apple-use-keychain option.
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Authorize the public key with the destination
Copy only the public key’s contents. For the default filename, display it with:
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pubFor a custom filename, use its corresponding .pub path. Add that text wherever the destination accepts public keys. A code-hosting account typically provides an SSH keys page; a server account generally requires the public key to be added to that user’s authorized_keys file. The exact process depends on the service and server configuration. If you do not administer the server, follow the provider’s instructions or ask its administrator.
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Keep the private-key file—the one without .pub—on your Mac. Do not paste it into a website, send it to an administrator, or add it to an account’s public-key form.
Test the SSH connection
Use the destination’s normal SSH command, replacing the example username and hostname:
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ssh username@hostnameIf the server still prompts for the remote account password, check that the public key was authorized for the same user you are connecting as, that SSH is offering the intended private key, and that the server permits public-key authentication. A password prompt does not by itself mean the key pair is invalid.
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Connecting into your Mac is a separate setting
Creating a key lets your Mac authenticate to another system; it does not make the Mac accept incoming SSH connections. To allow another computer to connect to the Mac, use Apple’s Remote Login setting:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Choose General, then Sharing.
- Click the information button beside Remote Login and turn Remote Login on.
- Under “Allow access for,” choose “Only these users” and select the permitted accounts when practical.
Apple displays an SSH command you can use from the other computer. Its example supports connecting to the Mac, but enabling Remote Login does not automatically install a public key or disable password authentication. Apple warns: “Allowing remote login to your Mac can make it less secure.” Do not enable full disk access for remote users unless the task specifically requires it. Read Apple’s Remote Login guidance before enabling inbound access.
Optional: use a FIDO2 security key
A hardware-backed FIDO2 SSH key is an advanced alternative to a file-based Ed25519 key, not a requirement for ordinary SSH use. Yubico documents SSH support for its YubiKey 5 Series and says FIDO2 SSH requires OpenSSH 8.2 or later. It also notes that the OpenSSH bundled with macOS lacks FIDO support; this approach therefore requires a compatible OpenSSH installation, such as one installed through Homebrew, placed ahead of the system version in your PATH.
| Consideration | File-based Ed25519 key | FIDO2 hardware-backed key |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Uses the standard SSH key workflow documented for macOS by GitHub. | Requires compatible OpenSSH; Yubico says macOS’s bundled version lacks FIDO support. |
| What you need | The private-key file on your Mac and its passphrase. | A compatible OpenSSH setup and the security key when authenticating. |
| Setup | Generate the key, add it to the agent, and authorize its public key. | Additional software and hardware setup; follow the vendor’s instructions. |
| Lost-key recovery | Recovery depends on whether you have a secure backup and can authorize a replacement key. | Recovery depends on the service’s supported recovery process and whether another key or access method is available; no universal recovery standard is established here. |
These are different setup paths, not a measured security comparison. See Yubico’s SSH documentation for its compatibility and product details.
Do not disable server password authentication casually
Using a key from your Mac does not require changing the server’s authentication policy. Disabling password authentication is a separate server-administration decision, not a step in client-side key setup. A misconfiguration can lock you out. Only consider changing that policy if you administer the server, have verified a second login with the key, and have a backup access path; consult instructions for that server’s operating system.
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