---
title: "Retrieve an Existing SSH Key"
method: GET
path: "/v2/account/keys/{ssh_key_identifier}"
tags: ["DigitalOcean-public.v2-new_SSH Keys"]
---

# Retrieve an Existing SSH Key

`GET /v2/account/keys/{ssh_key_identifier}`

To get information about a key, send a GET request to `/v2/account/keys/$KEY_ID` or `/v2/account/keys/$KEY_FINGERPRINT`.
The response will be a JSON object with the key `ssh_key` and value an ssh_key object which contains the standard ssh_key attributes.

## Path parameters

- `ssh_key_identifier` union, required
  - integer — A unique identification number for this key. Can be used to embed a specific SSH key into a Droplet.
  - string — A unique identifier that differentiates this key from other keys using a format that SSH recognizes. The fingerprint is created when the key is added to your account.

## Response `200`

A JSON object with the key set to `ssh_key`. The value is an `ssh_key` object containing the standard `ssh_key` attributes.

- object
  - `ssh_key` SshKeys
    - `id` integer — A unique identification number for this key. Can be used to embed a specific SSH key into a Droplet.
    - `fingerprint` string — A unique identifier that differentiates this key from other keys using a format that SSH recognizes. The fingerprint is created when the key is added to your account.
    - `public_key` string, required — The entire public key string that was uploaded. Embedded into the root user's `authorized_keys` file if you include this key during Droplet creation.
    - `name` string, required — A human-readable display name for this key, used to easily identify the SSH keys when they are displayed.

## Other responses

- `401` — Authentication failed due to invalid credentials.
- `404` — The resource was not found.
- `429` — The API rate limit has been exceeded.
- `500` — There was a server error.
- `default` — There was an unexpected error.

---

[API](https://skmtc.net/digitalocean/apis/digitalocean-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.net/digitalocean/apis/digitalocean-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-staging.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/digitalocean/digitalocean-api/revisions/cb3bf9b21459/schema)