GitHub is a widely used platform for version control and collaborative development. However, encountering authentication errors can impede your workflow. One common issue is the “Authentication Failed” error, which occurs when your credentials are not properly recognized. This article will guide you through troubleshooting steps to resolve this error and get you back to working seamlessly on GitHub from the command line.

Ensure that you are using the correct username and password or personal access token (PAT) for authentication. Double-check for any typos or changes in your credentials.

If you’re using a PAT, ensure it has the necessary permissions for the actions you’re trying to perform.

GitHub supports both HTTPS and SSH for repository access. If you’re using HTTPS, make sure you’re providing the correct credentials.

If you’re using SSH, ensure that your SSH key is properly configured and associated with your GitHub account. You can check this in your GitHub account settings.

Sometimes, the credentials stored by Git might become outdated or corrupted. You can update them using the following commands:

git config --global --unset credential.helpergit config --global credential.helper cache

This will clear the existing credentials and set up Git to cache new credentials when prompted.

If you’ve previously saved your credentials using Git’s credential helper, you might need to clear the cache. Use the following command:

git credential-cache exit

Authenticate on GitHub with 2FA

Go to Settings:

Navigate to your GitHub account settings by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner of the GitHub interface, then selecting “Settings” from the dropdown menu.

Access Developer Settings:

In the left sidebar of your GitHub settings, scroll down and click on “Developer settings.”

Select Personal Access Tokens:

Under “Developer settings,” click on “Personal access tokens.” This will take you to the page where you can manage your personal access tokens.

Generate a New Token:

On the “Personal access tokens” page, click on the “Generate new token” button. You may be prompted to enter your GitHub password to proceed.

Configure Token Settings:

Give your token a descriptive name so you can easily recognize its purpose later. Then, select the scopes (permissions) that your token requires based on the actions you’ll be performing. For example, if you’re only pushing code to repositories, you only need to select the “repo” scope.

Generate and Copy Token: After configuring the token settings, click on the “Generate token” button. Once the token is generated, make sure to copy it immediately. GitHub will not display the token again for security reasons.

Use the Token for Authentication:

When prompted for credentials on the command line, instead of entering your GitHub password, paste the personal access token you just generated into the “Password” field. Your username remains the same.

Encountering “Authentication Failed” errors on GitHub can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can quickly identify and resolve the issue. By verifying your credentials, checking authentication methods, and exploring potential server issues, you can regain access to your repositories and continue your development work seamlessly from the command line.