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Article version: Enterprise Server 2.18

Why is Git always asking for my password?

If Git prompts you for a username and password every time you try to interact with GitHub, you're probably using the HTTPS clone URL for your repository.

Using an HTTPS remote URL has some advantages compared with using SSH. It's easier to set up than SSH, and usually works through strict firewalls and proxies. However, it also prompts you to enter your GitHub credentials every time you pull or push a repository.

You can avoid being prompted for your password by configuring Git to cache your credentials for you. Password-based authentication for Git is deprecated, and we recommend using a personal access token (PAT) when prompted for a password instead, which is more secure. Treat your token just like a password. For more information, see "Creating a personal access token."

Once you've configured credential caching, Git automatically uses your cached personal access token in place of a password when you pull or push a repository using HTTPS.

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