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How to Add Vultr SSH Keys

Updated on 12 September, 2025

Learn how to add and manage SSH keys to your Vultr account for secure, password-free server access

A Vultr account Secure Shell (SSH) key authenticates and establishes a secure connection between a client application like Putty or Filezilla and cloud compute instances. SSH keys are more secure than passwords because they're long, complex, and less prone to brute-force attacks.

Follow this guide to add SSH keys using the Vultr Customer Portal, API, or CLI.

  • Vultr Customer Portal
  • Vultr API
  • Vultr CLI

  1. Navigate to Account and select SSH Keys under OTHER.

  2. Click Add SSH Key.

    Add SSH Key

  3. Enter the SSH Key details and click Add SSH Key.

    SSH Key Details

  1. Send a POST request to the Create SSH key endpoint to create an SSH key.

    console 
    $ curl "https://api.vultr.com/v2/ssh-keys" \
    -X POST \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer ${VULTR_API_KEY}" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --data '{
        "name" : "{ssh_key_name}",
        "ssh_key" : "{ssh_public_key_value} {email_address}"
    }'

    Visit the Create SSH key endpoint to view additional attributes to add to your request.

  2. Send a GET request to the List SSH Keys endpoint to view all SSH keys.

    console 
    $ curl "https://api.vultr.com/v2/ssh-keys" \
    -X GET \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer ${VULTR_API_KEY}"

  1. Create a new SSH Key.

    console 
    $ vultr-cli ssh-keys create \
--name="<ssh_key_name>" \
--key="<ssh_public_key_value> <email_address>"

    Run vultr-cli ssh-keys create --help to view additional available options.

  2. List all SSH keys.

    console 
    $ vultr-cli ssh-keys list

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