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9.FAQ
Why use a GUI for SSH?
Because it’s convenient to see and manage all your servers from one clean, unified interface. No more memorizing aliases or long commands—click, connect, done.
What is SSH Pilot?
SSH Pilot is a modern, lightweight SSH connection manager for Linux and macOS that includes an integrated terminal and productivity features such as tabbed sessions, SFTP file management, connection grouping, broadcast commands, port forwarding, SCP transfers, keypair workflows, privacy controls, theming, and SSH config integration.
I don’t want a third-party app touching my SSH config!
Turn on Isolated Mode. When this mode is enabled, SSH Pilot won’t read or modify ~/.ssh/config. It maintains its own SSH config under your app config directory (e.g. ~/.config/sshpilot/) and leaves your ~/.ssh/config intact.
Which operating systems and packages are supported?
Pre-built packages are available for Debian/Ubuntu (DEB), Fedora/RHEL/CentOS/OpenSUSE (RPM), Flatpak, Arch Linux via AUR, and macOS (aarch64).
Windows is not yet supported.
How do I install the Flatpak build?
Install the Flatpak release from Flathub by running:
flatpak install flathub io.github.mfat.sshpilot
How do I install packages on Debian/Ubuntu or Fedora-based systems?
Download the DEB or RPM package from the Releases section, or add the repositories for updating the app with your package manager.
How do I run SSH Pilot from source?
Install the Python modules from requirements.txt, ensure modern GNOME libraries are available, then launch:
python3 run.py
Append --verbose for detailed logging when needed.
How do I open or search for connections using keyboard?
Use Ctrl/Cmd+N to create a connection, Ctrl/Cmd+F to search, Ctrl/Cmd+L to focus the list, and Enter to open or focus the highlighted connection.
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Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+Nor mouse middle-click → open in a new tab -
Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+C→ open Quick Connect
How do I manage tabs purely with the keyboard?
Switch tabs with Alt+Left/Right, close the current tab with Ctrl/Cmd+F4, and open the overview via Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+Tab.
Use F9 or Ctrl/Cmd+B to toggle the sidebar.
Can I organize servers into groups?
Yes. Right-click a server and choose Add to Group.
Does SSH Pilot support loading my existing ~/.ssh/config entries?
Yes. Hosts from standard SSH configs can be loaded, while parser rules treat wildcard or multi-label host definitions as configuration rules rather than connectable entries.
How can I import my existing ssh/config if I use Flatpak or Isolated Mode?
Copy its contents, open SSH Pilot’s main menu, select SSH Config Editor, and paste your configuration. It will be automatically picked up.
What terminal features are available?
You can open local terminal tabs, broadcast commands, and use standard copy/paste/select-all/zoom shortcuts directly from the keyboard for efficient workflows.
How do I work with remote files?
SSH Pilot includes an SFTP file manager with shortcuts for focusing path entries, refreshing directories, copying, cutting, pasting, moving, and deleting selections entirely from the keyboard.
On Linux, SSH Pilot can also open remote servers in your system’s file manager (Nautilus, Dolphin, etc.) using GIO/GVFS.
How do I generate a new SSH key from the app?
The key manager uses ssh-keygen to create ed25519 or rsa keys, validates file names, ensures existing keys are not overwritten, applies passphrases if provided, and fixes permissions after generation.
Will existing keys show up in the key picker?
Yes. Keys with matching .pub files in your SSH directory are discovered and listed so they can be reused without regeneration.
How do I copy a key to a remote server?
Select a server and press the key icon on the bottom toolbar, or use the Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+K shortcut. This can reuse a discovered key or generate a new one before installing it on the target host.
**I'm still being prompted for passphrase even though it's saved! If you have disabled ssh-agent in your ssh configuration, you should disable BatchMode if you don't want to be prompted for passphrase every time.
**My private key isn't being used for authentication! Your key doesn't use a standard name. In such cases you should select that specific key in connection editor, rather than using the "Automatic" option
Does it store passwords or passphrases in plain text?
No. SSH Pilot uses your operating system’s keychain (e.g. macOS Keychain, GNOME Keyring). At runtime it securely supplies credentials to OpenSSH (via askpass/sshpass when needed). Nothing is saved in plain text.
How does SSH Pilot protect my credentials?
Secrets are never copied to the clipboard or stored in plain text; libsecret handles secure credential storage on Linux through the Secret Service API.
Is the application open source?
Yes. SSH Pilot is distributed as free software under the GPL v3 license.
Where can I find askpass debug logs?
The askpass helper logs to sshpilot-askpass.log in SSHPILOT_ASKPASS_LOG_DIR when set, otherwise in XDG_RUNTIME_DIR, falling back to the system temporary directory. These messages do not appear in the main application log.
Can I adjust the interface to my preferences?
Yes. SSH Pilot offers a privacy toggle for hiding hostnames, light and dark themes, and configurable terminal fonts and color schemes to match your environment.
Default shortcuts interfere with another app I use in terminal.
Go to Help → Shortcut Editor and modify or disable the problematic shortcut.
Does it support feature X/Y/Z?
If OpenSSH supports it, SSH Pilot likely does. It parses your ~/.ssh/config and executes the system ssh, so it behaves like running ssh <host> in your terminal. Common options such as Host patterns, IdentityFile, ProxyJump, and port forwarding are supported.
Where can I ask questions or follow updates?
Use the Issues or Discussions sections on the GitHub page to report bugs and request features.
You can also join the official Telegram channel for announcements and community support.