---
name: "ssh-sk-helper"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "openssh"
version: "10.6p1-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ssh-sk-helper"
---

# ssh-sk-helper(8)

OpenSSH helper for FIDO authenticator support

## NAME

**ssh-sk-helper** – OpenSSH helper for FIDO authenticator support

## SYNOPSIS

**ssh-sk-helper** \[**-v**\]

## DESCRIPTION

**ssh-sk-helper** is used by [ssh(1)](/ssh/1.md), [ssh-agent(1)](/ssh-agent/1.md), and [ssh-keygen(1)](/ssh-keygen/1.md) to access keys provided by a FIDO authenticator.

**ssh-sk-helper** is not intended to be invoked directly by the user.

A single option is supported:

- **-v**

  Verbose mode. Causes **ssh-sk-helper** to print debugging messages about its progress. This is helpful in debugging problems. Multiple **-v** options increase the verbosity. The maximum is 3.

  Note that [ssh(1)](/ssh/1.md), [ssh-agent(1)](/ssh-agent/1.md), and [ssh-keygen(1)](/ssh-keygen/1.md) will automatically pass the **-v** flag to **ssh-sk-helper** when they have themselves been placed in debug mode.

## SEE ALSO

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

## HISTORY

**ssh-sk-helper** first appeared in OpenBSD 6.7.

## AUTHORS

Damien Miller ⟨*djm@openbsd.org*⟩