How to Fix Git Push Username Password Prompts

Git push requires username and password on your PC but not on your laptop because the devices are likely using different authentication methods - your laptop probably has SSH key authentication configured, while your PC is using HTTPS authentication which requires credentials. The authentication difference occurs when repositories are cloned using HTTPS URLs instead of SSH URLs, and this can be resolved by switching to SSH authentication, setting up personal access tokens, or configuring credential helpers.

Contents

• Understanding the Authentication Difference
• Why This Happens Between Devices
• Solution 1: Switch to SSH Authentication
• Solution 2: Use Personal Access Tokens
• Solution 3: Configure Credential Helpers
• Troubleshooting Authentication Issues
• Best Practices for Multi-Device Git Workflows

Understanding the Authentication Difference

The authentication difference between your PC and laptop stems from how the Git repository was initially cloned and configured. When you clone a repository, you typically use either HTTPS or SSH protocols, each with different authentication requirements.

HTTPS authentication requires your GitHub username and password (or personal access token) for every interaction with the remote repository, which is what you’re experiencing on your PC. According to the GitHub documentation, GitHub removed support for password authentication on August 13, 2021, so you now need to use personal access tokens.

SSH authentication, on the other hand, uses cryptographic keys to authenticate without requiring passwords. This is likely why your laptop works without prompting for credentials - it probably has SSH key-based authentication configured.

Why This Happens Between Devices

Several factors can cause authentication differences between devices:

1. Different Clone Methods

• HTTPS Clone: git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git
• SSH Clone: git clone git@github.com:username/repository.git

The Stack Overflow discussion explains that repositories cloned using HTTPS will always prompt for credentials, while SSH clones use key-based authentication.

2. Credential Storage Differences

Your laptop may have Git credentials stored in the system’s credential manager, while your PC might not. Windows, macOS, and Linux each have different credential storage mechanisms that can affect authentication behavior.

3. SSH Key Configuration

As mentioned in the Better Stack Community guide, SSH keys need to be generated and added to your GitHub account. If this was done on your laptop but not your PC, that explains the difference.

Solution 1: Switch to SSH Authentication

The most reliable solution is to switch your repository from HTTPS to SSH authentication. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Generate SSH Keys

First, generate an SSH key pair if you don’t already have one:

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

This creates two files:

• ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 (private key)
• ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub (public key)

Step 2: Add SSH Key to SSH Agent

Add your private key to the SSH agent for automatic use:

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Step 3: Add Public Key to GitHub

Copy your public key and add it to your GitHub account:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

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

Step 4: Change Remote URL

Update your repository’s remote URL from HTTPS to SSH:

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

As explained in the GitHub documentation, this eliminates the need for username and password authentication.

Solution 2: Use Personal Access Tokens

If you prefer to keep using HTTPS, you can use personal access tokens instead of passwords:

Step 1: Generate Personal Access Token

1. Go to GitHub → Settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens
2. Generate a new token with appropriate scopes (usually repo for full repository access)
3. Important: Copy the token immediately - you won’t be able to see it again

Step 2: Use Token as Password

When Git prompts for password, use your personal access token instead. You can also configure this permanently:

git remote set-url origin https://username@github.com/username/repository.git

As the Medium article explains, you can include the token directly in the URL.

Solution 3: Configure Credential Helpers

Credential helpers store your credentials securely and automatically provide them when needed:

Windows

Use the Windows Credential Manager:

git config --global credential.helper manager

macOS

Use the Keychain:

git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain

Linux

Use the Git credential manager:

git config --global credential.helper cache
# or for permanent storage:
git config --global credential.helper store

The Unix Stack Exchange discussion explains that proper credential configuration prevents repeated authentication prompts.

Troubleshooting Authentication Issues

If you’re still having authentication problems, here are some troubleshooting steps:

Check Current Remote URL

git remote -v

This will show whether you’re using HTTPS or SSH.

Verify SSH Connection

Test your SSH connection to GitHub:

ssh -T git@github.com

You should see a message like “You’ve successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.”

Clear Credentials

If credential helper isn’t working, try clearing stored credentials:

git credential-manager uninstall
git credential-manager install

Check SSH Agent

Ensure your SSH key is loaded:

ssh-add -l

Best Practices for Multi-Device Git Workflows

To maintain consistent authentication across all your devices:

1. Use SSH Keys: Set up SSH authentication on all devices for a seamless experience
2. Backup SSH Keys: Keep your SSH keys backed up securely across devices
3. Use SSH Config: Configure ~/.ssh/config for easier management
4. Regular Key Updates: Periodically rotate your SSH keys for security
5. Test Connections: Verify authentication on each device after setup

As the DEV Community guide suggests, proper SSH configuration makes working with GitHub repositories much more efficient across multiple devices.

Sources

1. GitHub Documentation - Connecting to GitHub with SSH
2. Stack Overflow - Git asks for username every time I push
3. Better Stack Community - Git Push Requires Username and Password
4. Medium - How To Use Username and Password to Push Commits on GitHub
5. GitHub Documentation - Using a Personal Access Token on the Command Line
6. Unix Stack Exchange - Why git asks for username when ran inside a script
7. DEV Community - GitHub SSH Key Authentication and SSH Config
8. FreeCodeCamp - How to fix Git always asking for user credentials

Conclusion

The authentication difference between your PC and laptop is most likely due to different authentication methods being used. Your laptop probably has SSH key authentication configured, while your PC is using HTTPS authentication. To resolve this and enable seamless Git operations across both devices, you should:

1. Switch to SSH authentication by generating SSH keys and updating your remote URL - this is the most reliable solution
2. Use personal access tokens if you prefer to keep HTTPS authentication
3. Configure credential helpers to store credentials securely and automatically
4. Ensure consistent configuration across all your devices for a smooth workflow

By implementing SSH authentication, you’ll eliminate the need to enter credentials for every Git operation, making your development experience more efficient and secure across all your devices.