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What would you like to do?
Using multiple github accounts with ssh keys

Problem

I have two Github accounts: oanhnn (personal) and superman (for work). I want to use both accounts on same computer (without typing password everytime, when doing git push or pull).

Solution

Use ssh keys and define host aliases in ssh config file (each alias for an account).

How to?

  1. Generate ssh key pairs for accounts and add them to GitHub accounts.

  2. Edit/Create ssh config file (~/.ssh/config):

    # Default github account: oanhnn
    Host github.com
       HostName github.com
       IdentityFile ~/.ssh/oanhnn_private_key
       IdentitiesOnly yes
       
    # Other github account: superman
    Host github-superman
       HostName github.com
       IdentityFile ~/.ssh/superman_private_key
       IdentitiesOnly yes
    
  3. Add ssh private keys to your agent:

    $ ssh-add ~/.ssh/oanhnn_private_key
    $ ssh-add ~/.ssh/superman_private_key
  4. Test your connection

    $ ssh -T git@github.com
    $ ssh -T git@github-superman

    With each command, you may see this kind of warning, type yes:

    The authenticity of host 'github.com (192.30.252.1)' can't be established.
    RSA key fingerprint is xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:
    Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?

    If everything is OK, you will see these messages:

    Hi oanhnn! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
    Hi superman! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
  5. Now all are set, just clone your repositories

    $ git clone git@github-superman:org2/project2.git /path/to/project2
    $ cd /path/to/project2
    $ git config user.email "superman@org2.com"
    $ git config user.name  "Super Man"

Done! Goodluck!

@chhapanbhogi
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Excellent post .

@chenxiao218
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chenxiao218 commented Mar 12, 2023

git remote set-url origin git@github-personal:user/repo-name.git

This works to me, thanks.

@Pfuufy
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Pfuufy commented Apr 7, 2023

Very helpful. Thanks!

@webThreeBuilder
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If you already have the repo set up, after the ssh config instructions, just do:

  • Remote is called probably origin
  • I have work and personal accounts, for this I used git@github-personal as host from your SSH config
  • user/repo-name.git for the Github repository

$ git remote set-url origin git@github-personal:user/repo-name.git

Hi, thanks for your good tips 👍, its worked for my case by your great comment, after following the steps above, we also have to reset the remote origin url with our custom "git-acount-host" in the config

@abdeljabarTaoufikallahPro

Thanks man

@akhill4054
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Thank you man! You are a life saver!

@datatravelandexperiments

Thank you! Note that if you have ssh multiplexing set up globally, especially with persistence, you may want to disable it for github, since multiplexing works per-machine and not per Host entry. Add ControlMaster no to each Host configuration.

@silicakes
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This is golden, thanks!

@aicals
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aicals commented Jun 2, 2023

Pure gold! Thanks!

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