diff --git a/app/qml/DevicePage.qml b/app/qml/DevicePage.qml
index 07747592a..7d802f155 100644
--- a/app/qml/DevicePage.qml
+++ b/app/qml/DevicePage.qml
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ Kirigami.ScrollablePage {
         Kirigami.PlaceholderMessage {
             // FIXME: not accessible. screen readers won't read this. Idem for the other PlaceholderMessages
             //        https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kirigami/-/merge_requests/1482
-            text: i18nd("kdeconnect-app", "This device is not paired")
+            text: i18nd("kdeconnect-app", "This device is not paired.\nKey: %1", root.currentDevice.verificationKey)
             anchors.centerIn: parent
             visible: root.currentDevice && root.currentDevice.isReachable && !root.currentDevice.isPaired && !root.currentDevice.isPairRequestedByPeer && !root.currentDevice.isPairRequested
             helpfulAction: Kirigami.Action {
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ Kirigami.ScrollablePage {
         }
 
         Kirigami.PlaceholderMessage {
-            text: i18nd("kdeconnect-app", "Pair requested")
+            text: i18nd("kdeconnect-app", "Pair requested\nKey: " + root.currentDevice.verificationKey)
             anchors.centerIn: parent
             visible: root.currentDevice && root.currentDevice.isReachable && root.currentDevice.isPairRequested
             QQC2.BusyIndicator {
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ Kirigami.ScrollablePage {
         }
 
         Kirigami.PlaceholderMessage {
-            text: i18n("Pair requested")
+            text: i18n("Pair requested\nKey: " + root.currentDevice.verificationKey)
             visible: root.currentDevice && root.currentDevice.isPairRequestedByPeer
             anchors.centerIn: parent
             spacing: Kirigami.Units.largeSpacing
diff --git a/core/device.cpp b/core/device.cpp
index 6b5edae2a..0288c0e8d 100644
--- a/core/device.cpp
+++ b/core/device.cpp
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ QSslCertificate Device::certificate() const
     return d->m_deviceInfo.certificate;
 }
 
-QByteArray Device::verificationKey() const
+QString Device::verificationKey() const
 {
     auto a = KdeConnectConfig::instance().certificate().publicKey().toDer();
     auto b = certificate().publicKey().toDer();
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ QByteArray Device::verificationKey() const
     QCryptographicHash hash(QCryptographicHash::Sha256);
     hash.addData(a);
     hash.addData(b);
-    return hash.result().toHex();
+    return QString::fromLatin1(hash.result().toHex().left(8).toUpper());
 }
 
 QString Device::pluginIconName(const QString &pluginName)
diff --git a/core/device.h b/core/device.h
index c5fb8e293..e3d420929 100644
--- a/core/device.h
+++ b/core/device.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class KDECONNECTCORE_EXPORT Device : public QObject
     Q_PROPERTY(QString type READ typeAsString NOTIFY typeChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString name READ name NOTIFY nameChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString iconName READ iconName CONSTANT)
+    Q_PROPERTY(QString verificationKey READ verificationKey CONSTANT)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString statusIconName READ statusIconName NOTIFY statusIconNameChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool isReachable READ isReachable NOTIFY reachableChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool isPaired READ isPaired NOTIFY pairStateChanged)
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ public:
     };
     QString iconName() const;
     QString statusIconName() const;
-    Q_SCRIPTABLE QByteArray verificationKey() const;
+    Q_SCRIPTABLE QString verificationKey() const;
     Q_SCRIPTABLE QString encryptionInfo() const;
 
     // Add and remove links
diff --git a/daemon/kdeconnectd.cpp b/daemon/kdeconnectd.cpp
index b887aaa24..718936d47 100644
--- a/daemon/kdeconnectd.cpp
+++ b/daemon/kdeconnectd.cpp
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ public:
         notification->setIconName(QStringLiteral("dialog-information"));
         notification->setComponentName(QStringLiteral("kdeconnect"));
         notification->setTitle(QStringLiteral("KDE Connect"));
-        notification->setText(
-            i18n("Pairing request from %1\nKey: %2...", device->name().toHtmlEscaped(), QString::fromUtf8(device->verificationKey().left(8))));
+        notification->setText(i18n("Pairing request from %1\nKey: %2", device->name().toHtmlEscaped(), device->verificationKey()));
         QString deviceId = device->id();
         auto openSettings = [deviceId, notification] {
             OpenConfig oc;
diff --git a/kcm/kcm.cpp b/kcm/kcm.cpp
index 8698501ca..886c8cac6 100644
--- a/kcm/kcm.cpp
+++ b/kcm/kcm.cpp
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ void KdeConnectKcm::resetCurrentDevice()
 
 void KdeConnectKcm::resetDeviceView()
 {
-    kcmUi.verificationKey->setText(i18n("Key: %1", QString::fromUtf8(currentDevice->verificationKey())));
+    kcmUi.verificationKey->setText(i18n("Key: %1", currentDevice->verificationKey()));
 
     kcmUi.name_label->setText(currentDevice->name());
     setWhenAvailable(