Add SSH keys to a running VM

Add keys from Settings → SSH keys to a running Linux VM. They are added to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys of the VM user, the one set at create or reinstall, and work right away.

Before you beginCopy Anchor Link

• The VM is running.
• qemu-guest-agent runs on the VM. It is installed on hostd images. If you removed it, install it again or add the key over SSH yourself.

StepsCopy Anchor Link

1. Open the VM and go to SSH keys.
2. Select the keys to add, or add a new one with +, and click Add.
3. Confirm it is you: enter the code from your authenticator app, or the code we send to your email if two-factor authentication is off. The confirmation lasts 15 minutes, so you can add keys to other VMs in that time without a new code. The page shows the user that received the keys.

Watch outCopy Anchor Link

• Keys are only appended, nothing is removed. To remove a key, edit ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the VM.
• A reinstall sets only the keys selected in the reinstall form.
• In rescue mode the keys go to the temporary system and disappear when you disable it. Use this to sign in and fix ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the system disk.