43 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
43 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: 'Error: Key already in use'
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intro: 'This error occurs when you try to [add a key](/articles/adding-a-new-ssh-key-to-your-github-account) that''s already been added to another account or repository.'
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redirect_from:
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- /articles/error-key-already-in-use
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- /github/authenticating-to-github/error-key-already-in-use
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- /github/authenticating-to-github/troubleshooting-ssh/error-key-already-in-use
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versions:
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fpt: '*'
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ghes: '*'
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ghec: '*'
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topics:
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- SSH
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---
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## Finding where the key has been used
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To determine where the key has already been used, open a terminal and type the `ssh` command. Use the `-i` flag to provide the path to the key you want to check:
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```shell
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$ ssh -T -ai ~/.ssh/id_rsa git@{% data variables.product.product_url %}
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# Connect to {% data variables.location.product_location %} using a specific ssh key
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> Hi USERNAME! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not
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> provide shell access.
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```
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The _username_ in the response is the account on {% data variables.location.product_location %} that the key is currently attached to. If the response looks something like "username/repo", the key has been attached to a repository as a [_deploy key_](/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/managing-deploy-keys#deploy-keys).
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To force SSH to use only the key provided on the command line, use `-o` to add the `IdentitiesOnly=yes` option:
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```shell
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ssh -v -o "IdentitiesOnly=yes" -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa git@{% data variables.product.product_url %}
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```
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## Fixing the issue
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To resolve the issue, first remove the key from the other account or repository and then [add it to your account](/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/adding-a-new-ssh-key-to-your-github-account).
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If you don't have permissions to transfer the key, and can't contact a user who does, remove the keypair and [generate a brand new one](/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent).
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## Deploy keys
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Once a key has been attached to one repository as a deploy key, it cannot be used on another repository. If you're running into this error while setting up deploy keys, see [AUTOTITLE](/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/managing-deploy-keys).
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