Forrest logo
back to the keychain tool

keychain:tldr:85782

keychain: Check for a running ssh-agent, and start one if needed.
$ keychain
try on your machine

The "keychain" command is a command-line utility available on Unix-based systems, including Linux and macOS. It is used to manage and handle keychains, which are secure containers for storing various types of sensitive information like passwords, private keys, certificates, and secure notes.

Keychains act as a secure vault to protect these sensitive data by encrypting them. The "keychain" command provides a way to create, manage, and interact with keychains, making it easier to handle and access these secure elements.

Keychain Command Usage:

  1. Create Keychain: "keychain [keychain_name]" - this command creates a new keychain with the specified name.

  2. Add Keys and Certificates: "keychain -k [keychain_name] [path_to_key_or_cert]" - this command adds a private key or certificate to a specific keychain.

  3. List Keychains: "keychain -l" - this command lists all the available keychains on the system.

  4. Unlock Keychain: "keychain -u [keychain_name]" - this command prompts for the passphrase to unlock the specified keychain.

  5. Change Default Keychain: "keychain -s [keychain_name]" - this command sets the specified keychain as the default keychain for the user.

  6. Delete Keychain: "keychain -d [keychain_name]" - this command deletes the specified keychain along with its contents.

By using the "keychain" command, users can manage and organize their keychains effectively, ensuring the security and accessibility of their sensitive data.

This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.
back to the keychain tool