Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Git manages version history on your computer; GitHub hosts remote repositories and provides a place to exchange changes. To use them together, configure Git, choose an HTTPS or SSH repository URL, clone it, commit work locally, then fetch or pull remote changes as needed. HTTPS is often simpler and works on more restricted networks; SSH uses a key pair and can reduce repeated credential prompts after setup.
What is the difference between Git and GitHub?
Git is the version-control tool: it records changes in a repository on your computer and lets you create commits. GitHub is a hosting service for remote repositories. It lets you store a repository online and exchange changes with other people or computers.
They work together, but they are not interchangeable. You can use Git without GitHub, and a GitHub account does not replace installing and configuring Git on your computer. Git performs local repository operations; when you connect to GitHub, the remote URL and its authentication method determine how Git communicates with that hosted repository.
How do I use GitHub with Git?
- Install and configure Git. Set the name and email Git should record on your commits. This is local Git configuration, distinct from authenticating to GitHub. Follow GitHub’s setup guide for your system.
- Choose a repository URL. On GitHub, select the HTTPS or SSH URL for the repository. That choice determines which authentication method Git uses.
- Clone the repository. Run
git clone <repository-url>, replacing the example with the URL you copied. Git downloads the repository’s files and commit history, configures the remote namedorigin, and checks out the remote’s default branch locally. See GitHub’s guide to getting changes from a remote repository. - Make changes and commit locally. Git records committed changes in your local repository. Commits do not automatically upload to GitHub.
- Exchange changes with the remote. Use fetch, merge, or pull according to whether you want to inspect or integrate remote changes. Commit your local work before pulling; integrating remote work can result in merge conflicts that need to be resolved.
What fetch, merge, and pull mean
git fetchdownloads new remote information without integrating it into your current branch.git mergeintegrates changes from another branch into the current branch.git pullcombines fetching remote changes with integrating them, typically by merging.
For GitHub’s more detailed explanation of these operations, see Getting changes from a remote repository.
#1 Best Overall
Should I use HTTPS or SSH for GitHub?
Both are supported for Git operations. Choose based on setup effort and network conditions, rather than assuming one is always more secure or convenient.
| Consideration | HTTPS | SSH |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | Usually easier; a credential helper or GitHub CLI can help manage authentication. | Requires generating or choosing a key pair and adding the public key to your GitHub account. |
| Authentication | GitHub no longer accepts account passwords for Git authentication. Use a personal access token or an authentication method such as a credential helper. | Git uses a private key kept on your computer; GitHub has the corresponding public key. A passphrase may be requested unless an agent is managing the key. |
| Network access | Generally the straightforward option when a firewall or proxy restricts SSH. | May fail if a firewall or proxy blocks SSH traffic. |
| A sensible fit | Useful if you want simpler setup or need compatibility with restrictive networks. | Useful if you are comfortable setting up keys and your network allows SSH. |
These tradeoffs are described in GitHub’s authentication overview and SSH documentation. HTTPS does not mean entering your GitHub account password each time: password authentication for Git has been removed.
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.” A passphrase, SSH agent, or compatible hardware security key can add protection; a hardware key is optional, not a requirement.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Check for an existing key. You may already have an SSH key on your computer. Check before generating another so you do not overwrite a key you rely on.
- Generate a key pair if needed. Use the operating-system-specific commands in GitHub’s SSH setup guide. Consider setting a passphrase.
- Load the key into an SSH agent if appropriate. An agent can manage the key so you do not have to enter its passphrase for each operation.
- Add the public key to GitHub. Add the public key—not the private key—to the account that needs repository access.
- Test the connection. Confirm SSH authentication works before cloning or pushing. If access is to an organization repository protected by SAML single sign-on, the key may also need to be authorized for that organization.
GitHub says it automatically deletes an SSH key that has not been used for a year. Review its current instructions for connecting with SSH before following commands, since the steps vary by operating system.
Why is GitHub asking me for credentials?
First check which URL your local repository uses. Run git remote -v in the repository directory: an HTTPS URL indicates HTTPS authentication, while an SSH-style URL indicates SSH. If Git repeatedly prompts while using HTTPS, GitHub notes that credentials may not be cached. Configure a credential helper to manage a personal access token, or choose an SSH remote if that better fits your setup. See GitHub’s credential-prompt troubleshooting guide.
Do not try your GitHub account password as a Git password. GitHub removed password authentication for Git operations; use a supported token or credential method for HTTPS, or configure SSH key authentication.
What if SSH is blocked by my firewall?
The simplest alternative is to use the repository’s HTTPS URL. GitHub also documents connecting over port 443 using ssh.github.com rather than github.com. Its documented SSH clone URL uses the ssh:// form. A proxy may still interfere, and this workaround is unsupported for GitHub Enterprise Server and GitHub Enterprise Cloud with data residency. Follow GitHub’s SSH-over-port-443 instructions for the exact configuration.
Recommended Free Tools
What does “Permission denied (publickey)” mean?
This error means the server rejected the SSH authentication attempt. Check that the public key is registered to the GitHub account with access, that your SSH client is offering the matching private key, and that any required organization SAML authorization is complete. GitHub provides further steps in its SSH troubleshooting guide.
When should I use a deploy key?
A deploy key is an advanced option for a server that needs repository access. Unlike a person’s account SSH key, it is attached to one repository. It can be configured to permit writes, but GitHub says a key should be dedicated to each repository when one server uses multiple repositories. For more granular permissions, consider whether a GitHub App is a better fit. See Managing deploy keys.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
