Can't log into Cockpit, doesn't recognize ssh key

[Neo-ST]

Hi, I've searched for this issue but can't find it anywhere.

I have RPI OS (Debian 12) installed on RPI and I have disabled passwords and bunch of other stuff in sshd_config. Only key login is permitted, which is the way I log into ssh.

Here it says that Cockpit looks for authorized public key in ~/.ssh directory, which I of course have (otherwise I wouldn't be able to log in).

However, when going to localhost:9090, login page still pops up and asks for my username and password.
I tried with my original credentials, but it won't accept them (since passwords are disabled).

So how am I supposed to log in ?
I'm also a newbie to Linux, so please bear with me.

Thanks.

[Neo-ST]

I created another user and added it to sudoers, and I'm using that user to log in to Cockpit.