SSH Public Key Fingerprint & Inspector
Read the algorithm, bit length, and fingerprints of any SSH key.
About this tool
Every SSH public key line — ssh-ed25519 AAAA…, ssh-rsa AAAA…, ecdsa-sha2-… — is a Base64-encoded binary blob. This inspector decodes it to show the algorithm, key size in bits, and comment, then computes the SHA256 fingerprint (the modern format, SHA256:…) and the legacy MD5 fingerprint (the colon-separated hex you may still see in older tools).
Fingerprints let you verify you're trusting the right key — compare the fingerprint shown here against the one displayed when you first connect to a server. Parsing happens entirely in your browser.
Like everything on encrypt.tools, this runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is transmitted or stored.
Frequently asked questions about SSH Key Inspector
What is an SSH key fingerprint for?+
A fingerprint is a short hash of a public key used to verify identity. When you connect to a server for the first time, SSH shows the server's fingerprint; comparing it against a known-good value (like the one this tool computes) protects you from man-in-the-middle attacks.
Why are there SHA256 and MD5 fingerprints?+
Modern OpenSSH shows SHA256 fingerprints (base64-encoded, prefixed SHA256:). Older systems used MD5 fingerprints (colon-separated hex). Both identify the same key; SHA256 is preferred because MD5 is broken for collision resistance.
Does this reveal my private key?+
No — you paste only the public key, and a public key is meant to be shared. The tool never asks for or handles private keys.
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