Git is a popular version control system used by developers to track and manage changes in their code. It allows users to collaborate on projects and review each other’s work. However, when attempting to clone or push a repository, users may encounter a "permission denied (publickey)" error. This error is caused by an incorrect public key authentication, and can be resolved by following a few simple steps.
Public Key Authentication Error
Public key authentication is a method of access control that uses a cryptographic key pair to authenticate users. When a user attempts to clone or push a repository, GitHub checks to see if the user’s public key is stored in their account settings. If the key is not found, the user will receive a "permission denied (publickey)" error.
Troubleshooting "Permission Denied" on GitHub
The first step to troubleshooting the "permission denied (publickey)" error is to generate a new SSH key. To do this, open a terminal window and use the command "ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]"". This will generate a new SSH key and save it to a file on your computer.
Once the key has been generated, it must be added to your GitHub account. To do this, open the file containing the key and copy its contents. Then, log into your GitHub account and navigate to the "SSH and GPG keys" page. On this page, click the "New SSH Key" button and paste the contents of the key file into the "Key" field. Finally, click the "Add SSH Key" button to save the key.
Once the key has been added to your GitHub account, you should be able to clone or push the repository without receiving any errors.
By following these steps, you can easily resolve the "permission denied (publickey)" error when attempting to clone or push a repository on GitHub. If the issue persists, it is recommended to contact GitHub support for further assistance.
