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How to Push a Local Project to GitHub with Git Bash: A Beginner’s Guide

Connect a local Git project to a new GitHub repository from Windows with Git Bash. Choose HTTPS or set up SSH, then push the right branch and verify it online.
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To put a Windows project on GitHub, make sure it is a committed local Git repository, create an empty repository on GitHub, add its URL as the origin remote in Git Bash, and push your branch. You can connect with HTTPS or SSH; HTTPS is often the simpler first option, while SSH requires a key pair set up in advance.

What Git, Git Bash, and GitHub each do

  • Git tracks changes in a project and stores its history in a local repository on your computer.
  • Git Bash is a Windows terminal where you can run Git commands.
  • GitHub hosts a remote copy of a Git repository online.

A remote URL tells Git where the online repository lives. The conventional name for the main remote is origin; it is just a label, not a special server. GitHub accepts both HTTPS and SSH remote URLs. GitHub’s explanation of remote repositories covers the relationship between local and remote copies.

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How do I add my local project to GitHub?

1. Open Git Bash in the project folder

Open Git Bash with the working directory set to the folder containing your project. If you already have a local Git repository, check that your work is committed and identify the current branch before connecting it to GitHub.

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If the folder is not yet a Git repository, initialize it with git init, add the files you intend to track, and commit them before continuing. For example:

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git init
git add .
git status
git commit -m "Initial commit"
git branch --show-current

Review git status before committing. Do not add files containing passwords, API keys, or other secrets; a secret committed to Git history may remain in that history even if you later delete the file. GitHub’s guidance on sensitive information explains the risk of exposing credentials.

2. Create an empty GitHub repository

On GitHub, create a new repository for the project. When you are connecting an existing local repository, leave the options to add a README, license, or gitignore file unchecked. Starting with an empty remote avoids creating a separate initial commit that can complicate the first push. Follow GitHub’s instructions for managing remote repositories.

3. Copy the repository URL and add it as a remote

On the new repository’s GitHub page, copy either its HTTPS or SSH URL. Use the URL exactly as shown. In Git Bash, run the following from your project folder, replacing REMOTE-URL with that URL:

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git remote add origin REMOTE-URL
git remote -v

The second command should display the URL for fetch and push. Check that it points to the repository you just created.

4. Push the current branch

Push your branch and set its upstream so future pushes can use the same remote and branch relationship:

git push -u origin main

Replace main with the branch name reported by git branch --show-current if your branch has a different name. Once the push completes, open the GitHub repository page and confirm the expected files and commit are visible.

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How do I connect to GitHub with SSH?

SSH authentication uses a key pair: the private key stays on your computer, and the matching public key is added to your GitHub account. GitHub’s current setup instructions recommend Ed25519 for new keys and a passphrase to protect the private key. Use SSH setup if you prefer key-based authentication and can complete the extra configuration; otherwise HTTPS is a valid way to make the first push.

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1. Check for an existing key

In Git Bash, look for existing SSH key files before generating another pair. GitHub’s key-checking instructions describe which files to look for. If you already have a suitable key, you may be able to use it rather than create a new one.

2. Generate an Ed25519 key if needed

Run the command below, replacing the email address with the one associated with your GitHub account:

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ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[email protected]"

When prompted, choose a passphrase. Keep the private key private; only the file ending in .pub is meant to be added to GitHub. GitHub documents generating a key and adding it to ssh-agent. RSA 4096-bit is a legacy alternative for systems that do not support Ed25519; older SSH clients may need updating.

3. Add the key to ssh-agent and GitHub

Follow GitHub’s steps to start ssh-agent and add the private key to it. Then copy the public key contents from the .pub file and add that public key to your GitHub account’s SSH keys. Do not upload or share the private key. The account settings location and exact interface labels can change, so use the current instructions for adding an SSH key to your account.

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4. Test SSH and use the SSH remote URL

Test the connection using GitHub’s documented command:

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ssh -T [email protected]

Then make sure the repository remote uses the SSH URL rather than HTTPS. Check it with git remote -v. If you have already added an HTTPS remote, replace it with the copied SSH URL:

git remote set-url origin REMOTE-URL

Use the exact SSH URL from the repository page. GitHub’s SSH connection test instructions explain the expected test flow.

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HTTPS or SSH: which should I choose?

Method Setup and network fit Authentication
HTTPS Often easier to start with and suitable for restrictive firewalls or proxies. Git operations use a personal access token or a credential helper; GitHub account passwords are not accepted for Git authentication.
SSH Requires creating or reusing a key, adding its public half to GitHub, and making the SSH key available locally. Uses the private key on your computer and its registered public-key match. Once configured, it avoids repeatedly entering account credentials.

For HTTPS, follow GitHub’s authentication overview and its credential-caching guidance. If Git prompts for a password during an HTTPS Git operation, use a personal access token or configure a credential helper such as Git Credential Manager; do not enter your GitHub account password.

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What to check when the first push fails

  • “remote origin already exists”: Run git remote -v to inspect the existing remote. If its URL is wrong, update it with git remote set-url origin REMOTE-URL rather than adding a second origin.
  • Permission denied or SSH authentication failure: Confirm the public key is registered with the intended GitHub account, the matching private key is available to SSH or ssh-agent, and git remote -v shows an SSH URL.
  • HTTPS keeps prompting for credentials: Use a personal access token when prompted for a password, or configure a credential helper.
  • The push says the branch does not exist: Check the local branch name with git branch --show-current, then use that name in the push command instead of assuming it is main.
  • Unexpected files are about to be pushed: Inspect git status and your staged changes. Remove secrets from the commit before pushing; do not treat deleting a secret file afterward as sufficient protection.

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