---
name: "dropbearconvert"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dropbear"
version: "2026.94-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dropbearconvert"
---

# dropbearconvert(1)

convert between Dropbear and OpenSSH private key formats

## NAME

**dropbearconvert** – convert between Dropbear and OpenSSH private key formats

## SYNOPSIS

**dropbearconvert** *input\_type* *output\_type* *input\_file* *output\_file*

## 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)](/ssh-keygen/1.md) to decrypt them first.

## 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

**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

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

## SEE ALSO

[dropbearkey(1)](/dropbearkey/1.md), [ssh-keygen(1)](/ssh-keygen/1.md)

**https://matt.ucc.asn.au/dropbear/dropbear.html**

## AUTHORS

Matt Johnston ⟨*matt@ucc.asn.au*⟩.