Git Login via SSH
Follow these steps to authenticate Git using SSH.
1. Check for Existing SSH Keys
Check if an SSH key already exists:
ls -al ~/.ssh
If files like id_rsa
and id_rsa.pub
are present, you already have a key.
2. Generate a New SSH Key (If Needed)
Generate a new SSH key:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com"
Press Enter to save it in the default location and set an optional passphrase.
3. Start SSH Agent and Add Your Key
Ensure the SSH agent is running:
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
Add your key:
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
4. Copy SSH Key to Git Provider
Copy the public key:
cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
Go to GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH Key, then paste the copied key.
5. Test SSH Connection
Test your connection:
GitHub:
ssh -T git@github.com
GitLab:
ssh -T git@gitlab.com
Bitbucket:
ssh -T git@bitbucket.org
A successful connection returns a message like:
Hi <username>! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
6. Configure Git User Information
Set your Git username and email:
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your_email@example.com"
7. Clone a Repository Using SSH
If cloning a new repository, use:
git clone git@github.com:your-username/your-repo.git
After completing these steps, you can use Git via SSH without entering your password every time. 🚀