Resolving the Git SSH Permission Denied Error: A Step-by-Step Guide

Resolving the Git SSH Permission Denied Error: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve encountered the following error while trying to push changes to your GitHub repository, you’re not alone:

$ git push
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 indicates that Git is unable to authenticate your SSH key when trying to access your GitHub repository. The solution involves ensuring that your SSH keys are correctly configured and loaded. Let’s dive into the steps to resolve this issue.

Understanding the Error

The error message Permission denied (publickey) means that your Git client was unable to authenticate with GitHub using SSH. This can occur for several reasons:

1. SSH Key Not Added to SSH Agent: Your SSH key might not be loaded into the SSH agent, which is required for authentication.
2. Incorrect SSH Key Configuration: The SSH key being used may not match the one configured on GitHub.
3. Missing SSH Key on GitHub: The SSH key may not be added to your GitHub account, preventing access.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Start the SSH Agent

The SSH agent is a background program that handles your SSH keys. You need to ensure that it is running before adding your key. Use the following command to start the SSH agent:

eval $(ssh-agent -s)

This command initializes the SSH agent and sets up the environment variables needed for the SSH client to interact with it.

Step 2: Add Your SSH Key to the Agent

Next, add your SSH private key to the SSH agent. The private key is typically located in the ~/.ssh directory. Replace [your-key-id] with the actual name of your private key file, which is usually id_rsa or similar.

ssh-add ~/.ssh/[your-key-id]

For most users, the command would be:

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa

This step ensures that the SSH agent has access to your private key and can use it for authentication.

Step 3: Test the SSH Connection to GitHub

Verify that your SSH key is correctly configured and can connect to GitHub. Use the following command to test the SSH connection:

ssh -T git@github.com

The output should be:

Hi [your-username]! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

This message confirms that GitHub recognizes your SSH key and that the authentication is successful.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

If you’re still facing issues after following the above steps, consider the following:

1. Check Your SSH Key Configuration on GitHub:

   • Ensure that the SSH key you are using is correctly added to your GitHub account.
   • Go to GitHub > Settings > SSH and GPG keys to verify.

2. Verify SSH Key Permissions:

   • Make sure your SSH key files have the correct permissions. The private key should be readable only by the user:

     chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_rsa

3. Check SSH Configuration:

   • Ensure your ~/.ssh/config file (if it exists) is properly configured. It should include a section for GitHub:

     Host github.com
       HostName github.com
       User git
       IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa

4. Generate a New SSH Key:

   • If you suspect your current SSH key might be compromised or improperly configured, consider generating a new SSH key pair and adding it to GitHub:

     ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com"

     Then, add the new key to GitHub and your SSH agent.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Permission denied (publickey) error and successfully push changes to your GitHub repository. Properly managing your SSH keys and ensuring they are correctly configured with GitHub will help maintain a smooth workflow and avoid authentication issues.

If you continue to experience problems, consult GitHub’s documentation or seek help from community forums for further assistance. Happy coding!