Digital ocean droplet ssh issues

I’m using a digital ocean droplet, which is having authentication issues, potentially ssh key issues.

I was normally logging in via ssh key from the digital ocean dashboard. I can’t log in anymore due to authentication issues.

1st try: I tried to reset the root password. I got a reset email. When I logged in on both the ISO mounted image and the hard drive it would ask me to enter the username and password. Then it would tell me to set a new password. I would set a new password and it would briefly flash a message. All I could gather was it was an authentication issue. Then it would reset and ask me for login again. The new password wouldn’t work. I would enter the password I got via email, it would tell me to set a new password… repeat.

2nd try: I restored a week old backup. I went on my computer and created a new ssh key. I used this method to copy it to the remote server https://www.chrisjhart.com/Windows-10-ssh-copy-id/#copy-ssh-key-to-remote-linux-device . Then I logged in via ssh. It let me know the disk was 99.9% full which was not the case when I logged out weeks ago. I closed my powershell ssh instance. I tried to login via digital ocean console. Authentication failure. I tried to log in via powershell ssh again. I got a public key failure.

3rd try I am restoring a 2 week old backup. This droplet is connected to the internet and a webpage can be accessed by anyone.

I am not sure what the issue is here.