diff --git a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/forms/profile.xml b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/forms/profile.xml
index fbbb2f7..274154b 100644
--- a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/forms/profile.xml
+++ b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/forms/profile.xml
@@ -159,7 +159,6 @@
 			default="none"
 		>
 			<option value="none">COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_REMOTE_NONE</option>
-			<option value="ftp">COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_REMOTE_FTP</option>
 			<option value="sftp">COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_REMOTE_SFTP</option>
 			<option value="google_drive">COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_REMOTE_GDRIVE</option>
 			<option value="s3">COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_REMOTE_S3</option>
@@ -183,6 +182,7 @@
 			label="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_HOST"
 			description="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_HOST_DESC"
 			maxlength="255"
+			required="true"
 			showon="remote_storage:sftp"
 		/>
 		<field
@@ -201,25 +201,38 @@
 			label="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_USERNAME"
 			description="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_USERNAME_DESC"
 			maxlength="255"
+			required="true"
 			showon="remote_storage:sftp"
 		/>
+		<field
+			name="sftp_auth_type"
+			type="list"
+			label="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_AUTH_TYPE"
+			description="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_AUTH_TYPE_DESC"
+			default="key"
+			showon="remote_storage:sftp"
+		>
+			<option value="password">COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_SFTP_AUTH_PASSWORD</option>
+			<option value="key">COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_SFTP_AUTH_KEY</option>
+			<option value="key_passphrase">COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_SFTP_AUTH_KEY_PASSPHRASE</option>
+		</field>
 		<field
 			name="sftp_password"
 			type="password"
 			label="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PASSWORD"
 			description="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PASSWORD_DESC"
 			maxlength="255"
-			showon="remote_storage:sftp"
+			required="true"
+			showon="remote_storage:sftp[AND]sftp_auth_type:password"
 		/>
 		<field
 			name="sftp_key_data"
-			type="textarea"
+			type="SshKey"
 			label="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY"
 			description="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_DESC"
-			rows="6"
-			cols="60"
 			filter="raw"
-			showon="remote_storage:sftp"
+			showon="remote_storage:sftp[AND]sftp_auth_type:key,key_passphrase"
+			addfieldprefix="Joomla\Component\MokoSuiteBackup\Administrator\Field"
 		/>
 		<field
 			name="sftp_passphrase"
@@ -227,7 +240,8 @@
 			label="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PASSPHRASE"
 			description="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PASSPHRASE_DESC"
 			maxlength="255"
-			showon="remote_storage:sftp"
+			required="true"
+			showon="remote_storage:sftp[AND]sftp_auth_type:key_passphrase"
 		/>
 		<field
 			name="sftp_path"
@@ -236,6 +250,7 @@
 			description="COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PATH_DESC"
 			default="/backups"
 			maxlength="512"
+			required="true"
 			showon="remote_storage:sftp"
 		/>
 	</fieldset>
diff --git a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/language/en-GB/com_mokosuitebackup.ini b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/language/en-GB/com_mokosuitebackup.ini
index 9398fa4..1f2f08d 100644
--- a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/language/en-GB/com_mokosuitebackup.ini
+++ b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/language/en-GB/com_mokosuitebackup.ini
@@ -256,7 +256,17 @@ COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_USERNAME_DESC="Username for SSH authentication"
 COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PASSWORD="SSH Password"
 COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PASSWORD_DESC="Password for SSH authentication. Leave blank if using a key file."
 COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY="SSH Private Key"
-COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_DESC="Paste the contents of your SSH private key (e.g. id_rsa or id_ed25519). The key is stored securely in the database and written to a temp file with 0600 permissions only during upload, then deleted. Leave blank to use password authentication."
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_DESC="Upload or paste your SSH private key (e.g. id_rsa or id_ed25519). The key is stored securely in the database and written to a temp file with 0600 permissions only during upload, then deleted. Leave blank to use password authentication."
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_UPLOAD="Upload Key File"
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_REPLACE="Replace Key"
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_LOADED="Key loaded"
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_NONE="No key file"
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_CLEAR="Remove Key"
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_AUTH_TYPE="Authentication Type"
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_AUTH_TYPE_DESC="Choose how to authenticate with the SFTP server."
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_SFTP_AUTH_PASSWORD="Password"
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_SFTP_AUTH_KEY="Key File"
+COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_SFTP_AUTH_KEY_PASSPHRASE="Key File + Passphrase"
 COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PASSPHRASE="Key Passphrase"
 COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PASSPHRASE_DESC="Passphrase for the private key, if encrypted. Leave blank for unencrypted keys."
 COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_PATH="Remote Path"
diff --git a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/sql/install.mysql.sql b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/sql/install.mysql.sql
index 67020ec..a87895c 100644
--- a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/sql/install.mysql.sql
+++ b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/sql/install.mysql.sql
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `#__mokosuitebackup_profiles` (
 	`sftp_host`         VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`sftp_port`         INT(5) UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT 22,
 	`sftp_username`     VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	`sftp_auth_type`    VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'key',
 	`sftp_password`     VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`sftp_key_data`     MEDIUMTEXT,
 	`sftp_passphrase`   VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
diff --git a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/sql/updates/mysql/01.36.00.sql b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/sql/updates/mysql/01.36.00.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8b6565
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/sql/updates/mysql/01.36.00.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+-- MokoSuiteBackup 01.36.00 — SFTP auth type column
+
+ALTER TABLE `#__mokosuitebackup_profiles`
+    ADD COLUMN `sftp_auth_type` VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'key' AFTER `sftp_username`;
diff --git a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Engine/SftpUploader.php b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Engine/SftpUploader.php
index 5911c06..980ea4a 100644
--- a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Engine/SftpUploader.php
+++ b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Engine/SftpUploader.php
@@ -141,7 +141,15 @@ class SftpUploader implements RemoteUploaderInterface
 		$tmpDir = sys_get_temp_dir();
 		$keyFile = $tmpDir . '/mokobackup-sftp-' . bin2hex(random_bytes(8)) . '.key';
 
-		if (file_put_contents($keyFile, $this->keyData) === false) {
+		/* Key is stored base64-encoded in the database — decode before writing */
+		$keyContent = base64_decode($this->keyData, true);
+
+		if ($keyContent === false) {
+			/* Fallback: might be raw PEM (legacy or paste) */
+			$keyContent = $this->keyData;
+		}
+
+		if (file_put_contents($keyFile, $keyContent) === false) {
 			throw new \RuntimeException('Cannot write temporary SSH key file');
 		}
 
diff --git a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Field/SshKeyField.php b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Field/SshKeyField.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..176ce22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Field/SshKeyField.php
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @package     MokoSuiteBackup
+ * @subpackage  com_mokosuitebackup
+ * @author      Moko Consulting <hello@mokoconsulting.tech>
+ * @copyright   Copyright (C) 2026 Moko Consulting. All rights reserved.
+ * @license     GNU General Public License version 3 or later; see LICENSE
+ *
+ * Custom field for SSH private key input.
+ * Supports both file upload (via FileReader JS) and paste-in textarea.
+ * The key content is stored in the database, not as a file on disk.
+ */
+
+namespace Joomla\Component\MokoSuiteBackup\Administrator\Field;
+
+defined('_JEXEC') or die;
+
+use Joomla\CMS\Form\FormField;
+use Joomla\CMS\Language\Text;
+
+class SshKeyField extends FormField
+{
+	protected $type = 'SshKey';
+
+	protected function getInput(): string
+	{
+		$value = $this->value ?? '';
+		$id    = $this->id;
+		$name  = $this->name;
+
+		$hasKey = !empty($value) && str_contains($value, 'PRIVATE KEY');
+
+		$html = '<div id="' . htmlspecialchars($id) . '-wrapper">';
+
+		/* Status badge */
+		if ($hasKey) {
+			$html .= '<span class="badge bg-success me-2">'
+				. '<span class="icon-lock" aria-hidden="true"></span> '
+				. Text::_('COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_LOADED')
+				. '</span>';
+		}
+
+		/* File upload button */
+		$html .= '<label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="' . htmlspecialchars($id) . '-file">';
+		$html .= '<span class="icon-upload" aria-hidden="true"></span> ';
+		$html .= $hasKey ? Text::_('COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_REPLACE') : Text::_('COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_UPLOAD');
+		$html .= '</label>';
+		$html .= '<input type="file" id="' . htmlspecialchars($id) . '-file"'
+			. ' accept=".pem,.key,.openssh,.ppk,*" style="display:none;"'
+			. ' onchange="mokoSshKeyFileSelected(\'' . htmlspecialchars($id) . '\', this)">';
+
+		$html .= '<span id="' . htmlspecialchars($id) . '-status" class="ms-2 text-muted small"></span>';
+
+		if ($hasKey) {
+			$html .= ' <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-danger ms-2"'
+				. ' onclick="mokoSshKeyClear(\'' . htmlspecialchars($id) . '\')">'
+				. '<span class="icon-times" aria-hidden="true"></span> '
+				. Text::_('COM_MOKOJOOMBACKUP_FIELD_SFTP_KEY_CLEAR')
+				. '</button>';
+		}
+
+		/* Hidden field — key data is NEVER rendered as visible text.
+		   On existing keys, we submit a sentinel value to preserve the DB value
+		   unless a new file is uploaded or clear is clicked. */
+		if ($hasKey) {
+			$html .= '<input type="hidden" name="' . htmlspecialchars($name) . '" id="' . htmlspecialchars($id) . '"'
+				. ' value="__KEEP_EXISTING__">';
+		} else {
+			$html .= '<input type="hidden" name="' . htmlspecialchars($name) . '" id="' . htmlspecialchars($id) . '"'
+				. ' value="">';
+		}
+
+		$html .= '</div>';
+		$html .= $this->getScript();
+
+		return $html;
+	}
+
+	private function getScript(): string
+	{
+		return <<<'JS'
+<script>
+function mokoSshKeyFileSelected(fieldId, input) {
+	if (!input.files || !input.files[0]) return;
+	var file = input.files[0];
+	var reader = new FileReader();
+	reader.onload = function(e) {
+		/* Base64 encode the key before storing in the hidden field */
+		var content = e.target.result;
+		var encoded = btoa(content);
+		document.getElementById(fieldId).value = encoded;
+		var status = document.getElementById(fieldId + '-status');
+		if (status) status.textContent = file.name + ' uploaded';
+	};
+	reader.readAsText(file);
+}
+
+function mokoSshKeyClear(fieldId) {
+	document.getElementById(fieldId).value = '';
+	var status = document.getElementById(fieldId + '-status');
+	if (status) status.textContent = 'Key removed';
+	var fileInput = document.getElementById(fieldId + '-file');
+	if (fileInput) fileInput.value = '';
+}
+</script>
+JS;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Table/ProfileTable.php b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Table/ProfileTable.php
index fef06ca..5102e91 100644
--- a/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Table/ProfileTable.php
+++ b/source/packages/com_mokosuitebackup/src/Table/ProfileTable.php
@@ -25,6 +25,23 @@ class ProfileTable extends Table
 
 	public function store($updateNulls = true): bool
 	{
+		/* Handle SSH key sentinel — when __KEEP_EXISTING__ is submitted,
+		   preserve the current DB value instead of overwriting with the sentinel.
+		   This prevents the key from being exposed in the form HTML. */
+		if (isset($this->sftp_key_data) && $this->sftp_key_data === '__KEEP_EXISTING__') {
+			if ($this->id) {
+				$db    = $this->getDbo();
+				$query = $db->getQuery(true)
+					->select($db->quoteName('sftp_key_data'))
+					->from($db->quoteName($this->_tbl))
+					->where($db->quoteName('id') . ' = ' . (int) $this->id);
+				$db->setQuery($query);
+				$this->sftp_key_data = $db->loadResult() ?: '';
+			} else {
+				$this->sftp_key_data = '';
+			}
+		}
+
 		$result = parent::store($updateNulls);
 
 		if ($result && !empty($this->backup_dir)) {