DROPBEARCONVERT(1) General Commands Manual DROPBEARCONVERT(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

`dropbearconvert` — convert between Dropbear and OpenSSH private key formats

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

`dropbearconvert` `input_type` `output_type` `input_file` `output_file`

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

Dropbear and OpenSSH SSH implementations have different private key formats. `dropbearconvert` can convert between the two.

Dropbear uses the same SSH public key format as OpenSSH, it can be extracted from a private key by using `dropbearkey` `-y`

Encrypted private keys are not supported, use [ssh-keygen(1)](/man/os/dropbear/ssh-keygen.1) to decrypt them first.

# [ARGUMENTS](#ARGUMENTS)

`input_type`

Either `dropbear` or `openssh`

`output_type`

Either `dropbear` or `openssh`

`input_file`

An existing Dropbear or OpenSSH private key file

`output_file`

The path to write the converted private key file. For client authentication ~/.ssh/id\_dropbear is loaded by default

# [SUPPORTED FORMATS](#SUPPORTED_FORMATS)

`dropbearconvert` can read OpenSSH format files, and older PEM format files (`ssh-keygen` `-m` `PEM`). `dropbearconvert` will write OpenSSH format files, usable with OpenSSH 6.5 and later. Reading OpenSSH format DSS files or PKCS8 files is not currently supported.

# [EXAMPLES](#EXAMPLES)

```
# dropbearconvert openssh dropbear ~/.ssh/id_rsa ~/.ssh/id_dropbear
```

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[dropbearkey(1)](/man/os/dropbear/dropbearkey.1), [ssh-keygen(1)](/man/os/dropbear/ssh-keygen.1)

[https://matt.ucc.asn.au/dropbear/dropbear.html](https://matt.ucc.asn.au/dropbear/dropbear.html)

# [AUTHORS](#AUTHORS)

Matt Johnston <[matt@ucc.asn.au](mailto:matt@ucc.asn.au)>.

February 1, 2023 Linux 4.19.0-gvisor

---

Document: dropbearconvert(1) from dropbear 2026.94-r2 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/mkj/dropbear