# Verify SSH key fails

**URL:** <https://forum.gitea.com/t/verify-ssh-key-fails/11609>\
**Category:** Install/Maintain/Configure\
**Created:** [August 6, 2025, 8:44am UTC](https://forum.gitea.com/t/verify-ssh-key-fails/11609 "2025-08-06T08:44:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![uniquegch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.gitea.com/uniquegch/32/7037_2.png) [@uniquegch](https://forum.gitea.com/u/uniquegch)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 8:44am UTC](https://forum.gitea.com/t/verify-ssh-key-fails/11609/1 "2025-08-06T08:44:27Z")

</div>

Hello Giteaers,

I started with git and gitea and working my way through different areas.  
I am running Gitea as docker container followed that instructions ([Installation with Docker | Gitea Documentation](https://docs.gitea.com/installation/install-with-docker))

One is using ssh key instead of http. The ssh key has a passphrase

on Gitea - Settings - SSH / GPG Keys I added the new SSH Key and click on verify.  
I am coping the instructed link and add the correct path to the private key.

When executing that verification string I am getting the following message  
”Load key “/home/_user_/.ssh/_private-key_”: incorrect passphrase supplied to decrypt private key”

Where do I add the passphrase when executing the verification string?

Thanks