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Git SSH Clone: Username Password Guide

Learn how to provide username and password when cloning Git repositories via SSH. Discover sshpass usage, SSH key authentication, and credential managers for secure Git operations.

#git-clone-credentials#git-credential-managers#git-ssh-authentication#git-ssh-keys#sshpass-git
Question

How do I provide a username and password when cloning a Git repository using SSH authentication?

I understand how to include credentials in an HTTPS Git URL:

git clone https://username:password@host

However, I need to know how to provide a username and password when cloning using an SSH remote:

git clone git@host.git

I’ve attempted the following approaches without success:

git clone username:password@git@host.git
git clone git@username:password@host.git
git clone git@host.git@username:password

What is the correct syntax for providing authentication credentials when cloning a Git repository via SSH?

NeuroAgent

SSH authentication doesn’t work the same way as HTTPS - SSH uses different authentication mechanisms. The correct syntax depends on your specific setup and authentication method.

Contents

Understanding SSH Authentication

SSH authentication is fundamentally different from HTTPS authentication. According to the official Git documentation, SSH uses public key cryptography by default, not username/password combinations. The authentication method is determined by SSH, not Git itself.

“The part before the @ is the username, and the authentication method (password, public key, etc.) is determined by ssh, not Git” - Stack Overflow

When you use git clone git@host.git, Git relies on SSH to handle authentication, which typically expects SSH keys rather than passwords.

Alternative SSH URL Format

You can use a different SSH URL format that includes the username:

bash
git clone ssh://username@host/path/to/repo.git

This format is more explicit about the username, but it still relies on SSH’s authentication mechanisms. From the search results, this format can be combined with sshpass for password authentication.

Using sshpass for Password Authentication

To provide a password with SSH authentication, you can use the sshpass tool:

bash
sshpass -p password git clone ssh://username@host/path/to/repo.git

Important limitations:

  • sshpass can only provide passwords, not passphrases for SSH keys
  • It’s less secure than key-based authentication
  • The password appears in your shell history and process list

As noted in the Server Fault discussion:

“you cannot use sshpass to provide a passphrase, only a password in user/password vs private key ssh”

Installation:

bash
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install sshpass

# macOS
brew install sshpass

Security warning: Be careful when using sshpass in scripts, as the password becomes visible in your shell history and process listings.

SSH Key Authentication

The recommended approach for SSH authentication is using SSH key pairs:

  1. Generate SSH keys:
bash
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

  1. Add your public key to the Git server:

    • Copy the public key: cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
    • Add it to your Git provider’s SSH keys section

  2. Test the connection:

bash
ssh -T git@github.com

This approach provides secure, password-free authentication and is the standard method used by most Git services.

Git Credential Managers

For a more integrated approach, you can use Git’s credential managers:

Git Credential Manager (Windows/macOS):

bash
git config --global credential.helper manager

Git Credential Manager Core (Linux):

bash
git config --global credential.helper core

OS X Keychain:

bash
git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain

Linux libsecret:

bash
git config --global credential.helper libsecret

These managers securely store your credentials and provide them when needed, without requiring you to enter them manually each time.

Common Issues and Solutions

Authentication Method Conflicts

If you’re getting authentication errors, ensure you’re using the correct method for your setup:

  • SSH Keys: Most secure and recommended
  • Password with sshpass: Less secure, requires sshpass to be installed
  • Interactive password prompts: Use credential managers

Server Configuration Issues

According to Bitbucket documentation:

“A password authentication is required and cloning is not possible. The address the user is trying to clone is different to what the application expects.”

Make sure you’re using the correct SSH URL format for your Git server.

Proxy and Network Issues

If you’re behind a proxy or restrictive network, you may need additional SSH configuration. As suggested in the Unix Stack Exchange discussion:

“If however you must pass ssh really transient config options, like because you’re stuck at an airport wifi which blocks ssh, then adapt my usual instructions for ssh over tor”

Sources

  1. How do I provide a username and password when running “git clone git@remote.git”? - Stack Overflow
  2. Git clone with username password authentication in one go - Stack Overflow
  3. Provide a username and password for Git operation over SSH | Sentry
  4. Git clone using SSH always require password | Bitbucket Data Center
  5. How to provide password when run git clone command with a batch file - Stack Overflow
  6. Passing SSH options to git-clone - Unix & Linux Stack Exchange
  7. How to Clone With Username and Password in Git | Delft Stack

Conclusion

  • SSH authentication doesn’t support username/password in the same way as HTTPS
  • The most secure approach is using SSH key pairs
  • For password-based authentication, use sshpass -p password git clone ssh://username@host/path/to/repo.git
  • Git credential managers provide a better alternative for storing credentials securely
  • Always prefer SSH keys over password authentication when possible
  • The format git clone username:password@git@host.git won’t work because SSH doesn’t parse URLs that way

For long-term security and convenience, I strongly recommend setting up SSH key authentication rather than relying on password-based methods.

How do I set up SSH key authentication for Git repositories?What are the security risks of using sshpass for Git authentication?How do I configure Git credential managers on different operating systems?Why is my Git SSH clone authentication failing and how to troubleshoot?Can I use the same SSH key for multiple Git repositories?How do I switch between HTTPS and SSH authentication for Git remotes?
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