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Git tracks changes in a project on your computer; GitHub hosts remote repositories so you can store and share Git projects. To use them together, configure Git locally, choose an HTTPS or SSH repository URL, then clone it. HTTPS is generally the simpler starting point; SSH is useful if you prefer key-based authentication and your network allows it.
What is the difference between Git and GitHub?
Git is the version-control tool that records changes and commits in a local project. GitHub is a hosting service for remote Git repositories and collaboration. You can use Git without GitHub, but connecting a local Git repository to GitHub lets you exchange changes with a remote copy.
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Authentication is how Git proves to GitHub that you have permission to access a repository. The repository URL you choose determines whether Git connects over HTTPS or SSH; neither changes Git’s role in managing your local history.
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- Install Git and configure your commit identity. Set the name and email address Git should record on commits. This is local Git configuration, separate from signing in to GitHub. Follow GitHub’s setup guide.
- Choose a repository URL. On the GitHub repository page, choose HTTPS or SSH. Your choice determines the authentication method Git will use.
- Clone the repository. Run
git clonefollowed by the URL you selected. Git downloads the repository’s files and commit history, creates a local repository, configures the remote namedorigin, and checks out the remote’s default branch. See GitHub’s guide to getting changes from a remote repository. - Work and commit locally. Make changes in the project and commit them with Git. The commit records a point in the project’s local history; it does not by itself upload changes to GitHub.
- Exchange changes with the remote. Use fetch to retrieve remote updates without integrating them, merge to integrate fetched changes, or pull to combine fetching and merging. Commit your local work before pulling: integrating remote changes can result in conflicts that need to be resolved.
Should I use HTTPS or SSH for GitHub?
Both are supported for Git operations. HTTPS is often the easiest starting point and is more likely to work behind restrictive firewalls or proxies. SSH requires key setup, but after setup it can avoid repeated credential entry. The right choice depends on your network and whether you prefer setting up keys.
#1 Best Overall
| Consideration | HTTPS | SSH |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | Usually simpler; a credential helper or GitHub CLI can help with authentication, according to GitHub’s authentication documentation. | Generate a key pair and add the public key to your GitHub account. GitHub’s SSH guide explains the process. |
| Authentication | GitHub no longer accepts account passwords for Git authentication. Use a personal access token or a supported credential helper. | Git uses your local private key to authenticate; GitHub stores the matching public key. A passphrase may be requested unless an agent is handling the key. |
| Network access | Generally works through firewalls and proxies that permit HTTPS. | A firewall or proxy may block SSH connections. |
| Good fit | A straightforward choice if you want simpler setup or SSH traffic is restricted. | A useful choice if you are comfortable managing keys and your network permits SSH. |
SSH is not automatically more secure in every configuration, and HTTPS does not mean you must enter your account password. GitHub supports token-based HTTPS authentication and credential helpers.
How do I set up SSH keys for GitHub?
SSH uses a key pair: the private key stays on your computer, while the public key is added to your GitHub account. GitHub describes SSH as providing “a secure channel over an unsecured network” in its SSH documentation. A passphrase, an SSH agent, or a compatible hardware security key can add protection; a hardware key is optional.
- Check for an existing key. Look for an SSH key you can use before generating another one. GitHub’s SSH setup instructions cover supported operating systems and key types.
- Generate a key pair if needed. Follow the guide’s command for your system and consider adding a passphrase. Never share or upload the private key.
- Load the key into an SSH agent if appropriate. An agent can hold the unlocked key for use, so you need not repeatedly enter its passphrase during a session.
- Add the public key to GitHub. Add the public-key file to the account that needs repository access; do not add the private-key file.
- Test the connection. Confirm GitHub recognizes the key before cloning or pushing.
If an organization protects its repositories with SAML single sign-on, the SSH key may also need separate authorization for that organization. GitHub says it automatically deletes an SSH key that has not been used for a year.
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Repeated prompts can mean your remote uses HTTPS without a credential helper caching the token. First check the remote URL configured for the repository, then set up a supported credential helper or authenticate with GitHub CLI. GitHub explains the issue in Why is Git always asking for my credentials? Password authentication for Git operations has been removed, so use a personal access token or a supported helper rather than your GitHub account password.
What if SSH is blocked by my firewall?
You can switch to the repository’s HTTPS URL. Alternatively, GitHub documents SSH connections over port 443 using ssh.github.com rather than github.com. The clone URL for this workaround uses the ssh:// form; follow GitHub’s instructions for SSH over the HTTPS port rather than changing only part of a URL. A proxy may still interfere. GitHub says this workaround is unsupported for GitHub Enterprise Server and GitHub Enterprise Cloud with data residency.
What does “Permission denied (publickey)” mean?
The SSH server rejected the key offered for authentication. Check that the public key is registered with the account you intend to use, that your SSH client is offering the corresponding private key, and that any required organization SAML authorization is complete. GitHub’s SSH troubleshooting guide provides further diagnostics.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When should you use a deploy key?
A deploy key is an advanced option for a server that needs access to a particular repository. It is attached to that repository rather than a person’s account, and can be granted write access to push. GitHub notes that a server using multiple repositories needs a dedicated key for each one; for more granular permissions, it recommends considering a GitHub App. See Managing deploy keys.
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