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SSH Key Management

Manage your SSH keys from a dedicated window.

Open: Cmd+K or StormTunnel → SSH Key Management

Overview

Feature Description
Discover Automatically find keys in ~/.ssh/
Import Add keys from any location
Generate Create new ED25519 keys
Validate Check key security and format
Filter Find keys by type or status

Window Layout

Left panel: Key list with toolbar, filters, and search

Right panel: Selected key details, security info, and actions

Importing Keys

Drag and Drop

Drag SSH key files from Finder to the key list:

  • Keys from ~/.ssh/: Referenced without copying
  • Keys from elsewhere: Copied to secure app storage

Supported Files

  • Private keys: .pem, .key, or no extension (e.g., id_rsa, id_ed25519)
  • Public keys: .pub extension

Generating Keys

  1. Click Generate Key (or Cmd+N)
  2. Enter a descriptive name
  3. Review the filename preview
  4. Click Generate

Recommended

StormTunnel generates ED25519 keys - the modern, secure standard.

Naming Rules

  • Allowed: Letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores
  • Max length: 50 characters
  • Must be unique

Filtering Keys

Use the dropdown filter:

Filter Shows
All Keys Everything
Valid Only Correctly formatted keys
Needs Attention Keys with security issues
Encrypted Password-protected keys

Use the search bar to find keys by name.

Key Details

Select a key to see:

  • Name and type (ED25519, RSA, etc.)
  • File path
  • Import date
  • Security validation
  • Fingerprint
  • Encryption status

Security Levels

Level Meaning
High Strong encryption, modern algorithm
Medium Acceptable, older algorithm
Low Weak, consider replacing

Key Types

Type Status
ED25519 Recommended for all new keys
RSA Legacy, widely compatible
ECDSA Supported for import only

Actions

Right-click a key for:

  • Validate Key - Check security and format
  • Show Fingerprint - Display key fingerprint
  • Reveal in Finder - Open file location
  • Copy Public Key - Copy to clipboard for server setup

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut
Open SSH Key Management Cmd+K
Generate new key Cmd+N
Import keys Cmd+I
Search Cmd+F
Close window Cmd+W

Troubleshooting

Keys Not Showing

  1. Check ~/.ssh/ directory permissions
  2. Verify key file format (PEM or OpenSSH)
  3. Close and reopen the window

Drag and Drop Issues

  1. Check file is a valid SSH key
  2. Ensure you have read permission
  3. Use File → Import as alternative

Validation Errors

  1. Check file permissions on key
  2. Verify key format is supported
  3. Enter passphrase if key is encrypted

Best Practices

  • Use ED25519 for all new keys
  • Use descriptive names for easy identification
  • Remove unused keys to reduce clutter
  • Regular validation to catch security issues
  • Backup important keys to secure storage