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How to Add an SSH Key to GitHub: A Complete Setup Guide
Adding an SSH key to GitHub lets your computer communicate with GitHub securely — without typing your username and password every time you push, pull, or clone a repository. Once configured, the connection is authenticated automatically using cryptographic key pairs.
Here's exactly how the process works, what factors affect your setup, and where individual configurations start to diverge.
What Is an SSH Key and Why Does GitHub Use It?
SSH (Secure Shell) authentication relies on a key pair: a private key that stays on your machine and a public key that you share with GitHub. When you connect, GitHub checks whether your private key matches the public key on file — if they match, access is granted.
This is more secure than password authentication for several reasons:
- Your credentials are never transmitted over the network
- Private keys can be protected with an additional passphrase
- Keys can be revoked individually without changing your password
GitHub supports multiple SSH key algorithms, including Ed25519 (recommended for new setups) and RSA (widely compatible with older systems).
Step 1: Check for Existing SSH Keys 🔑
Before generating a new key, check whether one already exists on your system.
Open a terminal (or Git Bash on Windows) and run: