---
title: "Manage SSH keys"
description: "Add, view, and delete the SSH keys saved to your MyAccount account, and set a default key for new nodes."
content_type: "how-to"
product: "account"
platform: "MyAccount"
url: "/myaccount/account/how-to/manage-ssh-keys/"
topic: ["account-security"]
---

# Manage SSH keys

Save your SSH public key to your account once, then attach it to any node without pasting it
again. To attach a saved key to a node, see
[Add an SSH key to a node](/myaccount/node/how-to/add-an-ssh-key-to-a-node/).

## Before you begin

You need an SSH key pair on your computer. MyAccount saves the public key you paste. To make a key
pair, follow the `ssh-keygen` steps beside the form on **Add New SSH Key**, for Linux, macOS, or
Windows.

## Open SSH Keys

In MyAccount, open **Settings**, then **SSH Keys**. The list shows every key saved to your
account, with **Key Name**, **Key Type**, **Attached Nodes**, and **Created on**.

## Add a key

1. Click **Add New SSH Key**.
2. Paste your public key, up to 1,000 characters, into **Public Key**. Keep the private key on your
   computer.
3. In **Key name**, enter a name with no spaces, starting with a letter, up to 50 characters.
4. Click **Add SSH Key**.

The key is now saved to your account. Attach it to a node from that node's **Node Security** tab;
see [Add an SSH key to a node](/myaccount/node/how-to/add-an-ssh-key-to-a-node/).

## View or delete a key

Click **View** on a saved key to see its **Key Name**, **Key Type**, and the public key itself,
with a copy button. Click **Delete** to remove it from your account.

**Delete** removes the key from MyAccount only, and its confirmation warns that nodes already using
the key keep it. To stop the key working on a node, remove it from that node's authorized keys file
yourself.

## Set a default key for new nodes

To have a key attached to every node you create from now on, pick it as a default on
**General Settings**; see
[Set your account defaults](/myaccount/account/how-to/set-your-account-defaults/).

Your saved keys are ready to attach when you [create a node](/myaccount/node/how-to/create-a-node/).