---
title: "Create an SSH Key Pair"
slug: "create-ssh-key-pair"
updated: 2025-12-19T20:01:07Z
published: 2025-12-19T20:01:07Z
canonical: "docs.swxtch.io/create-ssh-key-pair"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.swxtch.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create an SSH Key Pair

WHAT TO EXPECT

In this section, users will learn how to create an SSH key pair for later use.

An SSH key pair is the standard and recommended method when connecting with SSH to a Linux instance (for example, a cloudSwXtch, a swXtchBridge, or an agent). If there is not already one available, users should create an SSH key pair *before* beginning the cloudSwXtch creation process.

In the *AWS Management Console*, make sure the current region is the planned one to use the cloudSwXtch instance.

1. **Navigate**to EC2

![AWS_Navigate-EC2-1](https://cdn.document360.io/84c5db44-f675-4f33-a980-5d3fc63073ca/Images/Documentation/AWS_Navigate-EC2-1.png)
  - **Select**the “Services” menu in the AWS Management Console.
  - **Click**“Compute”
  - **Select**“EC2”
2. In EC2, **click**“Key Pairs” under the “Network & Security” tab in the menu on the left-hand side.

![AWS-Navigate-EC2-KeyPairs](https://cdn.document360.io/84c5db44-f675-4f33-a980-5d3fc63073ca/Images/Documentation/AWS-Navigate-EC2-KeyPairs.png)
3. **Click**“Create Key Pair”. A new window should open.
4. Under **Name**, enter something meaningful and descriptive for the key.
5. Depending on the needs, choose **RSA** or **ED25519**, and **.pem**or **.ppk**(OpenSSH or PuTTY access).
6. Click on**Create Key Pair**.
  1. A file with the chosen extension will be downloaded (secret private key), and the other half of the pair will be stored on AWS for later use (public key, used in conjunction with the private key to validate the access).

![](https://cdn.document360.io/84c5db44-f675-4f33-a980-5d3fc63073ca/Images/Documentation/AWS%20SSH%20key%20par%20creation.jpg)

> [!WARNING]
> **WARNING**
> 
> The private key is not stored on AWS. If the key is lost, connecting to the instance with the associated public key will not be possible.

From now on, the new SSH key will be available on the AWS console.