---
name: "CURLOPT_KEYPASSWD"
section: "3"
platform: "macos"
package: "curl"
version: "166.0.0.0.1"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/CURLOPT_KEYPASSWD"
---

# CURLOPT\_KEYPASSWD(3)

passphrase to private key

## NAME

CURLOPT\_KEYPASSWD - passphrase to private key

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_KEYPASSWD, char *pwd);
```

## DESCRIPTION

Pass a pointer to a null-terminated string as parameter. It is used as the password required to use the *[CURLOPT\_SSLKEY(3)](/CURLOPT_SSLKEY/3.md)* or *[CURLOPT\_SSH\_PRIVATE\_KEYFILE(3)](/CURLOPT_SSH_PRIVATE_KEYFILE/3.md)* private key. You never need a pass phrase to load a certificate but you need one to load your private key.

The application does not have to keep the string around after setting this option.

## DEFAULT

NULL

## PROTOCOLS

All TLS based protocols: HTTPS, FTPS, IMAPS, POP3S, SMTPS etc.

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    CURLcode res;
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com/foo.bin");
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_SSLCERT, "client.pem");
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_SSLKEY, "key.pem");
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_KEYPASSWD, "superman");
    res = curl_easy_perform(curl);
    curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

This option was known as CURLOPT\_SSLKEYPASSWD up to 7.16.4 and CURLOPT\_SSLCERTPASSWD up to 7.9.2.

## RETURN VALUE

Returns CURLE\_OK if TLS enabled, CURLE\_UNKNOWN\_OPTION if not, or CURLE\_OUT\_OF\_MEMORY if there was insufficient heap space.

## SEE ALSO

[**CURLOPT\_SSH\_PRIVATE\_KEYFILE**(3)](/CURLOPT_SSH_PRIVATE_KEYFILE/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_SSLKEY**(3)](/CURLOPT_SSLKEY/3.md)