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docs/content/github/authenticating-to-github/checking-for-existing-ssh-keys.md
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---
title: Checking for existing SSH keys
intro: 'Before you generate an SSH key, you can check to see if you have any existing SSH keys.'
redirect_from:
- /articles/checking-for-existing-ssh-keys
versions:
free-pro-team: '*'
enterprise-server: '*'
---
{{ site.data.reusables.ssh.dsa-support }}
{{ site.data.reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal }}
2. Enter `ls -al ~/.ssh` to see if existing SSH keys are present:
```shell
$ ls -al ~/.ssh
# Lists the files in your .ssh directory, if they exist
```
3. Check the directory listing to see if you already have a public SSH key. By default, the filenames of the public keys are one of the following:
- *id_rsa.pub*
- *id_ecdsa.pub*
- *id_ed25519.pub*{% if currentVersion != "free-pro-team@latest" and currentVersion ver_lt "enterprise-server@2.19" %}
- *id_dsa.pub*{% endif %}
If you don't have an existing public and private key pair, or don't wish to use any that are available to connect to {{ site.data.variables.product.product_name }}, then [generate a new SSH key](/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent).
If you see an existing public and private key pair listed (for example *id_rsa.pub* and *id_rsa*) that you would like to use to connect to {{ site.data.variables.product.product_name }}, you can [add your SSH key to the ssh-agent](/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent/#adding-your-ssh-key-to-the-ssh-agent).
{% tip %}
**Tip:** If you receive an error that *~/.ssh* doesn't exist, don't worry! We'll create it when we [generate a new SSH key](/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent).
{% endtip %}