Generating a new SSH key and adding it to the ssh-agent

Mac OS X

[Source](https://help.github.com/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent/ "Permalink to Generating a new SSH key and adding it to the ssh-agent")

# Generating a new SSH key and adding it to the ssh-agent

After you've checked for existing SSH keys, you can generate a new SSH key to use for authentication, then add it to the ssh-agent.

If you don't already have an SSH key, you must [generate a new SSH key][1]. If you're unsure whether you already have an SSH key, check for [existing keys][2].

If you don't want to reenter your passphrase every time you use your SSH key, you can [add your key to the SSH agent][3], which manages your SSH keys and remembers your passphrase.

###  Generating a new SSH key

1. Open TerminalTerminalGit Bash.

2. Paste the text below, substituting in your GitHub email address.
    
        ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]_"
    

This creates a new ssh key, using the provided email as a label.
    
        Generating public/private rsa key pair.
    

3. When you're prompted to "Enter a file in which to save the key," press Enter. This accepts the default file location.
    
        Enter a file in which to save the key (/Users/_you_/.ssh/id_rsa): [_Press enter]_
    
    
        Enter a file in which to save the key (/c/Users/_you_/.ssh/id_rsa):[_Press enter]_
    
    
        Enter a file in which to save the key (/home/_you_/.ssh/id_rsa): [_Press enter]_
    

4. At the prompt, type a secure passphrase. For more information, see ["Working with SSH key passphrases"][4]. 
    
        Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase): [_Type a passphrase]_
    Enter same passphrase again: [_Type passphrase again]_
    

###  Adding your SSH key to the ssh-agent

Before adding a new SSH key to the ssh-agent to manage your keys, you should have [checked for existing SSH keys][2] and [generated a new SSH key][5]. When adding your SSH key to the agent, use the default macOS `ssh-add` command, and not an application installed by [macports][6], [homebrew][7], or some other external source.

1. Start the ssh-agent in the background.
    
        eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
    Agent pid 59566
    

2. If you're using macOS Sierra 10.12.2 or later, you will need to modify your `~/.ssh/config` file to automatically load keys into the ssh-agent and store passphrases in your keychain.
    
        Host *
     AddKeysToAgent yes
     UseKeychain yes
     IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa
    

3. Add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent and store your passphrase in the keychain. If you created your key with a different name, or if you are adding an existing key that has a different name, replace _id_rsa_ in the command with the name of your private key file.
    
        $ ssh-add -K ~/.ssh/id_rsa
    

4. [Add the SSH key to your GitHub account][8].

If you have [GitHub Desktop][9] installed, you can use it to clone repositories and not deal with SSH keys. It also comes with the Git Bash tool, which is the preferred way of running `git` commands on Windows.

1. Ensure the ssh-agent is running:

2. Add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent. If you created your key with a different name, or if you are adding an existing key that has a different name, replace _id_rsa_ in the command with the name of your private key file.
    
        ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
    

3. [Add the SSH key to your GitHub account][8].

1. Start the ssh-agent in the background.
    
        eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
    Agent pid 59566
    

2. Add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent. If you created your key with a different name, or if you are adding an existing key that has a different name, replace _id_rsa_ in the command with the name of your private key file.
    
        ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
    

3. [Add the SSH key to your GitHub account][8].

###  Further reading

[1]: https://help.github.com#generating-a-new-ssh-key
[2]: https://help.github.com/articles/checking-for-existing-ssh-keys
[3]: https://help.github.com#adding-your-ssh-key-to-the-ssh-agent
[4]: https://help.github.com/articles/working-with-ssh-key-passphrases
[5]: https://help.github.com/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent#generating-a-new-ssh-key
[6]: https://www.macports.org/
[7]: http://brew.sh/
[8]: https://help.github.com/articles/adding-a-new-ssh-key-to-your-github-account
[9]: https://desktop.github.com/