---
id: cloud-accounts.how-do-i-pick-an-ssh-key-file
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/how-do-i-pick-an-ssh-key-file
category: "Cloud accounts"
subcategory: "FTP and SFTP servers"
question: "How do I choose my SSH key file when the .ssh folder is hidden?"
alt_questions:
  - "Can't find .ssh folder in file picker"
  - "Browse to id_ed25519 Storage Studio"
  - "Select private key file Mac hidden folder"
  - "Where is my SSH key on Mac?"
  - "Show hidden files in Storage Studio key picker"
short_answer: "Click Browse… next to Private key file — the picker opens at your SSH keys folder with hidden files visible. Choose the private key (not the .pub file). In any Mac file picker, Shift-Command-Period toggles hidden files."
tags: ["sftp", "ssh key", "finder"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/sftp-password-or-private-key", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/sftp-key-passphrase"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I choose my SSH key file when the .ssh folder is hidden?

Click **Browse…** next to **Private key file** in the SFTP form. The picker opens at your SSH keys folder with hidden files already visible, so you can choose files such as `id_ed25519` directly.

If you keep keys elsewhere, navigate there as usual; in any macOS file picker, pressing **Shift-Command-Period** shows or hides hidden files. Choose the **private** key — the file without `.pub` at the end. You can also type the path into the field.