# Use `ImportKeyPair` with a CLI
<a name="example_ec2_ImportKeyPair_section"></a>

The following code examples show how to use `ImportKeyPair`.

------
#### [ CLI ]

**AWS CLI**  
**To import a public key**  
First, generate a key pair with the tool of your choice. For example, use this ssh-keygen command:  
Command:  

```
ssh-keygen -t rsa -C "my-key" -f ~/.ssh/my-key
```
Output:  

```
Generating public/private rsa key pair.
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase):
Enter same passphrase again:
Your identification has been saved in /home/ec2-user/.ssh/my-key.
Your public key has been saved in /home/ec2-user/.ssh/my-key.pub.
...
```
This example command imports the specified public key.  
Command:  

```
aws ec2 import-key-pair --key-name "my-key" --public-key-material fileb://~/.ssh/my-key.pub
```
Output:  

```
{
  "KeyName": "my-key",
  "KeyFingerprint": "1f:51:ae:28:bf:89:e9:d8:1f:25:5d:37:2d:7d:b8:ca"
}
```
+  For API details, see [ImportKeyPair](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/ec2/import-key-pair.html) in *AWS CLI Command Reference*. 

------
#### [ PowerShell ]

**Tools for PowerShell V4**  
**Example 1: This example imports a public key to EC2. The first line stores the contents of the public key file (\$1.pub) in the variable `$publickey`. Next, the example converts the UTF8 format of the public key file to a Base64-encoded string, and stores the converted string in the variable `$pkbase64`. In the last line, the converted public key is imported to EC2. The cmdlet returns the key fingerprint and name as results.**  

```
$publickey=[Io.File]::ReadAllText("C:\Users\TestUser\.ssh\id_rsa.pub")
$pkbase64 = [System.Convert]::ToBase64String([System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetBytes($publickey))
Import-EC2KeyPair -KeyName Example-user-key -PublicKey $pkbase64
```
**Output:**  

```
KeyFingerprint                                  KeyName
--------------                                  -------
do:d0:15:8f:79:97:12:be:00:fd:df:31:z3:b1:42:z1 Example-user-key
```
+  For API details, see [ImportKeyPair](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/powershell/v4/reference) in *AWS Tools for PowerShell Cmdlet Reference (V4)*. 

**Tools for PowerShell V5**  
**Example 1: This example imports a public key to EC2. The first line stores the contents of the public key file (\$1.pub) in the variable `$publickey`. Next, the example converts the UTF8 format of the public key file to a Base64-encoded string, and stores the converted string in the variable `$pkbase64`. In the last line, the converted public key is imported to EC2. The cmdlet returns the key fingerprint and name as results.**  

```
$publickey=[Io.File]::ReadAllText("C:\Users\TestUser\.ssh\id_rsa.pub")
$pkbase64 = [System.Convert]::ToBase64String([System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetBytes($publickey))
Import-EC2KeyPair -KeyName Example-user-key -PublicKey $pkbase64
```
**Output:**  

```
KeyFingerprint                                  KeyName
--------------                                  -------
do:d0:15:8f:79:97:12:be:00:fd:df:31:z3:b1:42:z1 Example-user-key
```
+  For API details, see [ImportKeyPair](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/powershell/v5/reference) in *AWS Tools for PowerShell Cmdlet Reference (V5)*. 

------

For a complete list of AWS SDK developer guides and code examples, see [Create Amazon EC2 resources using an AWS SDK](sdk-general-information-section.md). This topic also includes information about getting started and details about previous SDK versions.