password required for user git on host github.com?
Asked by Erica Heinz:

I've migrated to a new Mac, and SourceTree won't let me pull or push. It says "Password Required For user git on host [github.com](http://github.com)", but neither my Github or Atlassian passwords are accepted. I tried generating a new SSH key and uploading it to my github account, but that didn't work either. Any insight would be much appreciated!


Answers:
author: Erica Heinz
body: Update: I still have no idea what I'm doing, but adding this config file fixed the problem:

<http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9960897/why-doesnt-my-ssh-key-work-for-connecting-to-github>

comments: author: Seth
body: I've never had to mess with that file, but I couldn't tell you why. Glad you found a solution!


author: DonnaLea
body: This is along the lines of what worked for me too. However, I found the answer on github and that calmed my nerves for changing random config files. Apparently it's something for macOS Sierra 10.12.2 or later.

<https://help.github.com/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent/#adding-your-ssh-key-to-the-ssh-agent>


author: Greg Burdett
body: [@DonnaLea](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/138451) Thanks, that page worked for me! I had the issue after upgrading from MacOS EL Capitan to High Sierra.


author: karwalbubble
body: Resolved it by using same passphrase as password when prompted that I used to connect bitbucket/git account in SourceTree.

comments: author: Francisco Santana
body: This worked for me!


author: Bashu Naimi-Roy
body: I was experiencing the same error on MacOS Big Sur, after trying to clone a repo using SSH. Github provided a URL beginning with git@github.com, I'd paste this into Sourcetree and receive the prompt "password required for user git on host github.com".

I connected my Github account to Sourcetree using OAuth, so there was no "password" that I could use (as far as I knew)

I found [this marvelous comment from DiscDev](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/9960897/why-doesnt-my-ssh-key-work-for-connecting-to-github#comment109407598_9963769)

Basically it recommends using 'ssh -T git@github.com'. I tried this in my terminal and received

```
the authenticity of host 'github.com (140.82.113.4)' can't be established.
RSA key fingerprint is (insert RSA fingerprint here).
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?
```

Typed yes, received

```
Hi (my user name here)! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
```

tried to clone again in Sourcetree (after deleting my Sourcetree entries from Keychain Access) and it's cloning fine using SSH.

I'm not entirely sure why because neither my \~/.ssh/config file nor my Keychain have been edited after this "authentication". I assume there's something on the Github server side? I'm satisfied with the results and moving on to the original coding I wanted to do. If somebody tries it and learns more, I'd invite them to comment on my Answer to appease my curiosity.

comments: author: Rafael91
body: I was struggling with this issue for some time - your solution works for me thanks!


author: Seth
body: Your Atlassian password definitely won't work. GitHub is not an Atlassian product.

If you have 2-Factor Authentication enabled in GitHub, you can follow these instructions to use password authentication in SourceTree: <https://confluence.atlassian.com/sourcetreekb/two-factor-authentication-2fa-with-github-in-sourcetree-402033499.html>

We would need more information to debug the SSH issue, but you might try ideas from this post: <http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20644173/unable-to-get-ssh-keys-working-between-sourcetree-and-github>

comments: author: Erica Heinz
body: Thanks so much! I followed the 2FA instructions to generate the token, and went to SourceTree settings \> Edit Account and pasted it there (following <https://clburlison.com/github-two-factor-authentication/>), but I'm still getting the password required dialog (which doesn't accept the token either). Not sure I understand.

I'd seen the other post, but the Mac app doesn't have the "Tools" menu described in the first answer, and the "correct repo path" in the second answer is how I have things set up already.


Tags: github

keychain

password