How to Stop Getting Asked for a Password When Using SSH with GitHub SSH Key Authentication

Discover how to resolve password prompts from GitHub by properly configuring your `SSH key` for seamless Git operations.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/66831050/ asked by the user 'Carol.Kar' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2847689/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/66831109/ provided by the user 'dataista' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/3254400/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Understanding the SSH Key Issue with GitHub

If you've set up your SSH key on your Ubuntu server for GitHub but are still being asked for a password when trying to run commands like git pull, you're not alone. Many users encounter this frustrating scenario, and it typically stems from a misconfiguration in the remote URL settings of your local Git repository.

The Problem Explained

You've verified your SSH setup, and when running the command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You received a success message indicating proper authentication. However, when attempting to interact with your repository, such as pulling changes, you're unexpectedly prompted for your GitHub username and password. This is an indication that Git is still trying to connect to your GitHub repository using an HTTP URL rather than SSH.

Solution: Switch to SSH Configuration

To resolve this issue, you need to reconfigure your local repository to use the SSH protocol instead of HTTP. Follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Open the Repository Configuration File

Navigate to the main directory of your local copy of the repository where you're facing the issue. You can use your preferred text editor, such as vim or nano, to open the .git/config file. For example, in your terminal, enter:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Locate the Remote Origin Settings

In the .git/config file, look for the section labeled [remote "origin"]. Here, you'll find the current url attribute pointing to your repository. It will look something like this:

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Step 3: Update the URL to Use SSH

To switch your repository connection from HTTP to SSH, you can simply comment out or delete the existing url line. Then, add the SSH URL reference, which typically looks like this:

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Replace user/repo.git with your actual GitHub username and repository name.

Step 4: Save and Exit

After making the changes, save the file and exit your text editor. If you used vim, you can do this by typing :wq and hitting Enter.

Step 5: Test Your Configuration

Finally, to ensure that you've configured everything correctly, try running the git pull command again:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

If everything is set up correctly, you should no longer see the password prompt, and GitHub will recognize your SSH key for authentication.

Conclusion

In summary, the key to solving the issue of being asked for a password when using GitHub with SSH keys lies in reconfiguring your local repository to point to the correct SSH URL. By following these steps, you can enjoy smooth and seamless interactions with GitHub without the hassle of repeated password entries.

Whether you're working on a personal project or collaborating with a team, proper SSH configuration will save you time and frustration—allowing you to focus on what truly matters: your code!

Happy coding!