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Why Git Push Asks for Password on One Device Only

Learn why Git requires different authentication on your PC vs laptop. Complete guide to fixing inconsistent Git authentication with SSH keys and Personal Access Tokens.

#git-authentication#git-credentials#github-setup#personal-access-tokens#ssh-keys
Question

Why does Git push require username and password on one device but not another?

I cloned a Git repository from my GitHub account to my PC and want to work with both my PC and laptop using the same GitHub account. However, when I try to push to or pull from GitHub using my PC, it requires a username and password, while this doesn’t happen on my laptop. I don’t want to type my credentials every time I interact with the remote repository (origin). What could be causing this difference between devices, and how can I set up consistent authentication across both machines?

NeuroAgent

Git push requires username and password on one device but not another primarily due to differences in authentication configuration between the machines. This commonly occurs when one device uses SSH keys while the other relies on HTTPS authentication, or when credential managers are configured differently on each system. The solution involves standardizing your authentication method across both devices using either SSH keys or Personal Access Tokens.

Contents

Understanding the Authentication Difference

The authentication behavior difference between your PC and laptop stems from how Git is configured on each machine and what authentication method is being used. Modern Git repositories can be cloned using two primary authentication methods:

  • HTTPS authentication: Uses username/password or Personal Access Tokens
  • SSH authentication: Uses SSH keys for secure, password-less authentication

When you clone a repository, the URL format determines which authentication method Git will use. If your laptop works without prompting for credentials, it likely has SSH keys properly configured, while your PC probably uses HTTPS authentication.

Important: GitHub has deprecated basic username/password authentication for all operations, meaning you now need either SSH keys or Personal Access Tokens for any Git operations.

Common Causes of Inconsistent Authentication

Several factors can cause authentication differences between devices:

Different Remote URL Formats

The most common cause is that one device uses an HTTPS remote URL while the other uses an SSH URL. You can check your current remote configuration with:

bash
git remote -v

This will show you something like:

origin  https://github.com/username/repo.git (fetch)
origin  https://github.com/username/repo.git (push)

Or:

origin  git@github.com:username/repo.git (fetch)
origin  git@github.com:username/repo.git (push)

Credential Manager Configuration

Different devices may have different Git credential managers configured. As Git’s official documentation explains:

  • macOS: Uses “osxkeychain” mode that caches credentials in the secure keychain
  • Windows: Can use Git Credential Manager (GCM) for Windows
  • Linux: May use various credential helpers like “cache”, “store”, or system keyrings

SSH Key Setup

If your laptop has SSH keys properly configured and added to your GitHub account while your PC doesn’t, this explains the authentication difference. You can test SSH connectivity with:

bash
ssh -T git@github.com

A successful authentication message indicates your SSH keys are working properly.

Setting Up SSH Keys for Consistent Authentication

SSH keys provide the most seamless authentication experience across devices. Here’s how to set them up:

Generate SSH Keys

If you don’t have SSH keys already, generate them:

bash
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

This creates a new SSH key in ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 and a public key in ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub.

Add SSH Key to SSH Agent

Start the SSH agent and add your key:

bash
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Add Public Key to GitHub

Copy your public key and add it to GitHub:

bash
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Then, go to your GitHub account → Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH key, and paste the contents.

Update Remote URL to Use SSH

On both devices, update your remote URL to use SSH:

bash
git remote set-url origin git@github.com:username/repo.git

Now both devices should authenticate seamlessly without password prompts.

Using Personal Access Tokens as an Alternative

If you prefer using HTTPS (or SSH isn’t an option), Personal Access Tokens (PATs) are the recommended approach:

Create a Personal Access Token

  1. Go to GitHub → Settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens → Tokens (classic)
  2. Click “Generate new token”
  3. Select the appropriate scopes (usually repo for full repository access)
  4. Copy the token immediately - you won’t see it again

Configure Git to Use PAT

There are several ways to use PATs:

Method 1: Direct URL update

bash
git remote set-url origin https://TOKEN@github.com/username/repo.git

Method 2: Configure credential helper
As Better Stack Community suggests, configure your Git credential store:

bash
git config --global credential.helper store

Then when prompted, enter your username and the PAT as the password.

Method 3: Use Git Credential Manager
For a more integrated experience, use Git Credential Manager which can handle PATs securely. As Microsoft’s documentation explains, this provides better security than storing credentials in plain text.

Configuring Git Credential Managers

Proper credential manager configuration can provide consistent authentication across devices:

For Linux

Configure credential caching for a set duration:

bash
git config --global credential.credentialStore cache
git config --global credential.cacheoptions="--timeout 72000"

This caches credentials for 20 hours (72000 seconds), so you authenticate at most once per day.

For Windows

Install and configure Git Credential Manager for Windows:

bash
git config --global credential.helper manager-core

For macOS

Use the built-in keychain integration:

bash
git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain

Verifying and Updating Remote URLs

Before making changes, verify your current remote configuration:

bash
git remote -v

If you see HTTPS URLs, you can update them to use SSH:

bash
git remote set-url origin git@github.com:username/repo.git

Or update to use a PAT with HTTPS:

bash
git remote set-url origin https://your_pat@github.com/username/repo.git

As GitHub’s official documentation recommends, SSH URLs generally provide better security and convenience.

Best Practices for Cross-Device Git Authentication

Standardize Your Approach

Choose one authentication method and use it consistently across all devices. SSH keys are generally preferred for their security and convenience.

Regular Key Management

If using SSH keys, periodically review and rotate your keys. Remove old keys that are no longer in use.

Use Appropriate Token Scopes

When creating PATs, follow the principle of least privilege - only grant the minimum scopes necessary for your work.

Keep Credentials Secure

Never commit credentials to your repository or share them unnecessarily. Use credential managers to store them securely.

Test Authentication

After making changes, test your authentication:

bash
git pull origin main

Or for SSH testing:

bash
ssh -T git@github.com

Conclusion

The difference in authentication behavior between your devices is typically caused by different remote URL configurations or credential manager setups. To resolve this and achieve consistent authentication across both machines:

  1. Choose a standardized authentication method - either SSH keys or Personal Access Tokens
  2. Set up SSH keys if you prefer password-less authentication, ensuring they’re added to both devices and your GitHub account
  3. Use Personal Access Tokens if you prefer HTTPS, updating your remote URLs to include the token
  4. Configure credential managers consistently on both devices to cache credentials securely
  5. Regularly maintain your authentication setup by reviewing keys and tokens

By implementing one of these solutions, you’ll eliminate the need to repeatedly enter credentials and enjoy a seamless Git workflow across all your devices.

Sources

  1. Git - Credential Storage - Official Git documentation on credential storage methods
  2. Git push requires username and password - Stack Overflow - Community discussion on authentication issues
  3. Caching your GitHub credentials in Git - GitHub Docs - Official GitHub guidance on credential caching
  4. Git Push Requires Username and Password | Better Stack Community - Alternative authentication methods explanation
  5. FAQ | Git-Credential-Manager-for-Windows - Windows-specific credential management
  6. GitHub keep asking for username password when git push - Mkyong.com - Practical troubleshooting guide
  7. Configuring git Credentials | Baeldung on Ops - Comprehensive credential configuration guide
How do I set up SSH keys for GitHub authentication on multiple devices?What's the difference between SSH and HTTPS authentication in Git?How do I configure Git Credential Manager for Windows to remember my password?Can I use the same SSH key for multiple GitHub accounts?How do I switch from HTTPS to SSH authentication in an existing Git repository?What should I do if my SSH key authentication suddenly stops working?
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