You make it work as root by leaving the configuration alone. MacUser2525:~$ cat .ssh/id_rsa.pub ssh-rsa AAAAB3N MacUser2525:~$ ssh [email protected] Linux buster-raspi 5.9.0-0.bpo.5-arm64 #1 SMP Debian 5.9.15-1~bpo10+1 (2020-12-31) aarch64 The programs included with the Debian GNU/Linux system are free software; the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright. Debian GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Last login: Tue Feb 23 22:22:43 2021 from fe80::1003:5492:80fa:2bc5%eth0 root@buster-raspi:~# cat .ssh/authorized_keys ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1 With this setting you enabled you have allowed root to login with a password. root@buster-raspi:~# cat /etc/ssh/sshd_config | grep Root #PermitRootLogin prohibit-password # the setting of "PermitRootLogin without-password". These are not needed to be changed as well. root@buster-raspi:~# cat /etc/ssh/sshd_config | grep Pubkey #PubkeyAuthentication yes root@buster-raspi:~# cat /etc/ssh/sshd_config | grep Authorized #AuthorizedKeysFile .ssh/authorized_keys .ssh/authorized_keys2 #AuthorizedPrincipalsFile none #AuthorizedKeysCommand none #AuthorizedKeysCommandUser nobody In short I have nothing set that you do only the defaults that load, the contents of my `id_rsa.pub` in the `.ssh/authorized_keys` file allows me to login as root. At least the guide you follow has not told you to change the port. This will only work if the root user is enabled on your Pi I see nothing saying you did this. sudo passwd root That sets your root password and enables the root user.