Git access to private repository using HTTPS

Question

Trying to clone a private repository I have access to using HTTPS protocol, as that is only allowed outgoing traffic.

git does not ask for passwords, just failed.

error: The requested URL returned error: 403 Forbidden while accessing https://github.com/blah/blahblah.git/info/refs

What am I missing ?

How did you clone the project? – Abimaran Kugathasan Jun 03 '14 at 07:06 — Abimaran Kugathasan, Jun 03 '14 at 07:06

codenheim · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-02T16:22:24.227

92

Did you try inserting the username (and optionally password) in the clone URL?

 git clone https://username@github.com/blah/blahblah.git

or if you accept the consequences of storing your password in plain view:

 git clone https://username:password@github.com/blah/blahblah.git

See this thread with a lot of good info:

How to provide username and password when run "git clone git@remote.git"?

EDIT: My original answer was just a quick fix, without understanding the full history of the asker, and it also works unattended, but for best security practices its better to let Git store your password. See @phpguru's answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/29018371/257090 as well.

edited Jun 02 '17 at 16:22

answered Jun 03 '14 at 07:14

codenheim

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Thanks, I assumed that git will ask for username and password but looks like I was wrong. – Ask and Learn Jun 03 '14 at 23:39
It's worth noting that if you have 2FA enabled, this will not work. – Paul Calabro May 05 '16 at 20:50
Note: I needed to generate a new PAT. I used the first option – DanielBell99 Feb 11 '22 at 10:03

score 40 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 12 '15 at 19:13

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The answer by @mrjoltcola should work, but if you would prefer not to place your github password in your server's bash_history in plaintext on the command line then you can omit the password and be prompted for it:

git clone https://username@github.com/organizationname/reponame.git
Password:

I like that better.

answered Mar 12 '15 at 19:13

phpguru

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This is the way to do it. – Buttle Butkus Jul 26 '17 at 03:25

score 6 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 15 '18 at 01:04

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If you are using two-factor authentication, you go to this link first:

https://github.com/settings/tokens

Create a token, and then use it as the password:

git clone https://username:token@github.com/blah/blahblah.git

edited Aug 15 '18 at 01:04

Stephen Rauch

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answered Aug 15 '18 at 00:36

Eduardo Kazan

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score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 05 '22 at 11:00

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While I was using HTTPS connections to AWS CodeCommit repositories on Linux, macOS, or Unix I got the same error.

I needed to enable the Git credential UseHttpPath by using below command. git config --global credential.UseHttpPath true

answered Dec 05 '22 at 11:00

user19599466

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score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Aug 15 '21 at 09:40

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Github no longer permit password authentication over https: you need to use a personal access token instead.

git clone https://<your_token>@github.com/<username>/<repo_name>.git

edited Aug 15 '21 at 09:40

snakecharmerb

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answered Aug 14 '21 at 20:52

Eldad Peretz

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score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 31 '23 at 04:45

If you try logging in with a new account, you may still encounter authentication failures after creating a new token. You need device activation to remember your credentials. There are two ways, but I highly recommend GitHub CLI.

Just follow the steps in GitHub Docs below.

https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/getting-started-with-git/caching-your-github-credentials-in-git

After entering the code displayed on your device to activate the device, I can use the git clone immediately.

Git access to private repository using HTTPS

6 Answers6