docs/content/desktop/installing-and-configuring-github-desktop/authenticating-to-github.md

title, shortTitle, intro, redirect_from, versions

title	shortTitle	intro	redirect_from	versions
Authenticating to GitHub	Authentication	You can securely access your account's resources on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} by authenticating to {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_dotcom }}.	/desktop/getting-started-with-github-desktop/authenticating-to-github-using-the-browser /desktop/getting-started-with-github-desktop/authenticating-to-github	free-pro-team *

About authentication

To keep your account secure, you must authenticate before you can use {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} to access resources on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_dotcom }}.

Before you authenticate, {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.get-an-account }}

{% mac %}

Authenticating an account on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_dotcom }}

{{ site.data.reusables.desktop.mac-select-desktop-menu }} {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.mac-select-accounts }} 3. To the right of "{{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_dotcom_the_website }}," click Sign In. 4. In the "Sign in" pane, click Sign in using your browser. {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} will open your default browser.

{{ site.data.reusables.user_settings.password-authentication-deprecation-desktop }}

{{ site.data.reusables.desktop.authenticate-in-browser }} {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.2fa-in-browser }} 7. After {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_dotcom }} authenticates your account, follow the prompts to return to {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }}.

Authenticating an account on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_enterprise }}

{{ site.data.reusables.user_settings.password-authentication-deprecation-desktop }}

{{ site.data.reusables.desktop.mac-select-desktop-menu }} {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.mac-select-accounts }} {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.choose-product-authenticate }} 4. To add a {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_enterprise }} account, type your credentials under "Enterprise server address," then click Continue. {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.retrieve-2fa }}

{% endmac %}

{% windows %}

Authenticating an account on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_dotcom }}

{{ site.data.reusables.desktop.windows-choose-options }} {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.windows-select-accounts }} 3. To the right of "GitHub.com," click Sign in. 4. In the Sign in pane, click Sign in using your browser.

{{ site.data.reusables.user_settings.password-authentication-deprecation-desktop }}

{{ site.data.reusables.desktop.authenticate-in-browser }} {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.2fa-in-browser }} 7. After {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_dotcom }} authenticates your account, follow the prompts to return to {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }}.

Authenticating an account on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_enterprise }}

{{ site.data.reusables.user_settings.password-authentication-deprecation-desktop }}

{{ site.data.reusables.desktop.windows-choose-options }} {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.windows-select-accounts }} {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.choose-product-authenticate }} 4. To add a {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_enterprise }} account, type your credentials under "Enterprise server address," then click Continue. {{ site.data.reusables.desktop.retrieve-2fa }}

{% endwindows %}

Troubleshooting authentication issues

If {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} encounters an authentication error, you can use error messages to troubleshoot.

If you encounter an authentication error, first try signing out and signing back in to your account on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }}.

For some errors, {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} will prompt you with an error message. If you are not prompted, or to find more information about any error, view the {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} log files by using the following steps.

{% mac %}

1. Use the Help drop-down menu and click Show Logs in Finder.
2. Select the log file from the date when you encountered the authentication error.

{% endmac %}

{% windows %}

1. Use the Help drop-down menu and click Show Logs in Explorer.
2. Select the log file from the date when you encountered the authentication error.

{% endwindows %}

Review the troubleshooting information below for the error message that you encounter.

Bad credentials

Error: Bad credentials

This error means that there is an issue with your stored account credentials.

To troubleshoot, sign out of your account on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} and then sign back in.

Empty token

info: [ui] [AppStore.withAuthenticatingUser] account found for repository: node - <username> (empty token)

This error means that {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} is unable to find the access token that it created in the system keychain.

To troubleshoot, sign out of your account on {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} and then sign back in.

Repository not found

fatal: repository 'https://github.com/<user>/<repo>.git' not found

(The error was parsed as 8: The repository does not seem to exist anymore. You may not have access, or it may have been deleted or renamed.)

This error means that you do not have permission to access the repository that you are trying to clone.

To troubleshoot, contact the person in your organization who administers permissions.

Could not read from remote repository

git@github.com: Permission denied (publickey).
fatal: Could not read from remote repository.

Please make sure you have the correct access rights and the repository exists.

This error means that you do not have a valid SSH key set up.

To troubleshoot, see "Generating a new SSH key and adding it to the SSH agent."

Failed to clone

fatal: clone of 'git@github.com:<user>/<repo>' into submodule path '<path>' failed
Failed to clone 'src/github.com/<user>/<repo>'. Retry scheduled
Cloning into '<path>'...
git@github.com: Permission denied (publickey).
fatal: Could not read from remote repository.
Please make sure you have the correct access rights
and the repository exists.

This error means that either the repository that you are trying to clone has submodules that you do not have access to or you do not have a valid SSH key set up.

If you do not have access to the submodules, troubleshoot by contacting the person who administers permissions for the repository.

If you do not have a valid SSH key set up, see "Generating a new SSH key and adding it to the SSH agent."

{% windows %}

Unable to read AskPass response

error: unable to read askpass response from '/Users/<path>/GitHub Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/app/static/ask-pass-trampoline.sh'
fatal: could not read Username for 'https://github.com': terminal prompts disabled

This error can be caused by multiple events.

If the Command Processor registry entries are modified, {{ site.data.variables.product.prodname_desktop }} will respond with an Authentication failed error. To check if these registry entries have been modified, follow these steps.

1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to the following locations. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor\ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor\
2. Check to see if there is an Autorun value in either location.
3. If there is an Autorun value, delete it.

If your Windows username has extended Unicode characters, it may cause an AskPass response error. To troubleshoot, create a new Windows user account and migrate your files to that account. For more information, see "Create a user account in Windows" in the Microsoft documentation.

{% endwindows %}

Further reading

• "About authentication to GitHub"