{% capture mac-content-add %}
1. Start the `ssh-agent` in the background using the command `eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"`. You get the agent process ID in return.
```none
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
Agent pid 59566
```
2. On macOS Sierra 10.12.2 or newer, modify your
`~/.ssh/config` file to automatically load keys into the `ssh-agent` and store
passphrases in your keychain.
```none
Host *
AddKeysToAgent yes
UseKeychain yes
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa
```
3. Add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent, using the default macOS `ssh-add` command.
```none
$ ssh-add -K ~/.ssh/id_rsa
```
If you created your key with a different name or have an existing key
with a different name, replace `id_rsa` in the command with the
name of your private key file.
{% endcapture %}
{{ mac-content-add | markdownify }}
{% capture win-content-add %}
1. Start the `ssh-agent` in the background.
```none
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
Agent pid 59566
```
2. Add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent.
```none
$ ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
```
If you created your key with a different name or have an existing key
with a different name, replace `id_rsa` in the command with the
name of your private key file.
{% endcapture %}
{{ win-content-add | markdownify }}
{% capture linux-content-add %}
1. Start the `ssh-agent` in the background.
```none
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
Agent pid 59566
```
2. Add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent.
```none
$ ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
```
If you created your key with a different name or have an existing key
with a different name, replace `id_rsa` in the command with the
name of your private key file.
{% endcapture %}
{{ linux-content-add | markdownify }}