How to generate and use SSH keys on your phone without exposing the private key

Using password-based SSH on mobile devices is considered insecure due to risks like phishing and brute-force attacks, making SSH key pairs a safer alternative. The critical challenge on phones is ensuring the private key is never exposed through insecure channels such as email, chat apps, or cloud-synced notes. Security best practice recommends generating the key directly on the device so it never leaves it, storing it in the phone's secure enclave, and protecting it with a passphrase and biometric authentication like Face ID. If importing an existing key is necessary, it should be transferred via an encrypted channel, with any intermediate copies deleted afterward. Experts also advise using a separate key per device so that losing one device requires only removing a single entry from a server's authorized keys, rather than replacing credentials across all systems.