5

I like having my SSH passphrase stored for the duration of my MacBook session, so that I don't have to keep entering it every time I SSH into a server, but when I restart my computer I want to have to enter it again (I don't want my passphrase encrypted and stored on disk in the keychain). This wasn't the case until I upgraded from Mountain Lion to Sierra; ever since then, it has been permanently storing my passphrase in my keychain. I can open the keychain preferences and delete my SSH passphrase, but the next time I SSH into a server and it prompts me for my passphrase, it is immediately added to the keychain again.

How can I get back to what I had with mountain lion, where my passphrase would be stored for the duration of my MacBook session, but then I would need to reenter it the next time I turn my MacBook on again.

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
7

There is a new option UseKeychain in Sierra, which defaults to yes and which is a reason for this behavior. If you do not like that, edit the configuration in ~/.ssh/config (or create this file):

UseKeychain no
AddKeysToAgent yes

The second option will tell the SSH agent to store the keys, which has the same result as if you had used ssh-add to enter your passphrase beforehand.

Improve this answer
2
  • Awesome, thanks! Will this allow me to still have the passphrase saved during my computer session so I don't have to enter it every time, or will this change so that I have to enter it every time?
    – orokusaki
    Jul 29, 2017 at 21:01
  • You can try AddKeysToAgent yes option, which should do that. But give it a try. I dont have mac.
    – Jakuje
    Jul 30, 2017 at 6:30

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .