---
id: troubleshooting.ssh-host-key-changed
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/ssh-host-key-changed
category: "Troubleshooting & messages"
subcategory: "Cloud accounts and transfers"
question: "What does \"The SSH host key for this server has changed\" mean?"
alt_questions:
  - "the ssh host key for this server has changed since it was first trusted"
  - "sftp host key mismatch storage studio"
  - "host key changed warning"
  - "is sftp host key changed dangerous"
short_answer: "The server's identity changed since you first connected — normal after a reinstall, but also what interception looks like. Confirm with the server's owner before reconnecting."
tags: ["sftp", "security", "host key"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/ssh-authentication-rejected"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does "The SSH host key for this server has changed" mean?

The server is identifying itself differently from the first time you connected. That's normal if the server was reinstalled or replaced — but it's also what a connection being intercepted would look like, so Storage Studio doesn't wave it through.

Ask whoever runs the server whether it was rebuilt. Only reconnect once you've confirmed the change is expected.