This version of GitHub Enterprise Server was discontinued on 2024-09-25. No patch releases will be made, even for critical security issues. For better performance, improved security, and new features, upgrade to the latest version of GitHub Enterprise Server. For help with the upgrade, contact GitHub Enterprise support.

About authentication to GitHub

You can securely access your account's resources by authenticating to GitHub Enterprise Server, using different credentials depending on where you authenticate.

In this article

About authentication to GitHub

To keep your account secure, you must authenticate before you can access certain resources on GitHub Enterprise Server. When you authenticate to GitHub Enterprise Server, you supply or confirm credentials that are unique to you to prove that you are exactly who you declare to be.

You can access your resources in GitHub Enterprise Server in a variety of ways: in the browser, via GitHub Desktop or another desktop application, with the API, or via the command line. Each way of accessing GitHub Enterprise Server supports different modes of authentication.

  • Your identity provider (IdP)
  • Username and password with two-factor authentication
  • Personal access token
  • SSH key

Authenticating in your browser

You can authenticate to GitHub Enterprise Server in your browser in a number of ways.

  • Username and password only

    • You'll create a password when you create your account on GitHub Enterprise Server. We recommend that you use a password manager to generate a random and unique password. For more information, see Creating a strong password.

  • Two-factor authentication (2FA) (recommended)

    • If you enable 2FA, after you successfully enter your username and password, we'll also prompt you to provide a code that's generated by a time-based one time password (TOTP) application on your mobile device. For more information, see Accessing GitHub using two-factor authentication.

    • In addition to authentication with a TOTP application, you can optionally add an alternative method of authentication with a security key using WebAuthn. For more information, see Configuring two-factor authentication.

  • External authentication

    • Your site administrator may configure your GitHub Enterprise Server instance to use external authentication instead of a username and password. For more information, see About identity and access management.

Session cookies

GitHub uses cookies to provide services and secure your GitHub Enterprise Server instance.

  • The gist.HOSTNAME domain and base domain for your instance use separate cookies.
  • GitHub Enterprise Server typically marks a user session for deletion after two weeks of inactivity.
  • GitHub Enterprise Server does not immediately delete a session when you sign out. Periodically, GitHub Enterprise Server automatically deletes expired sessions.

Authenticating with GitHub Desktop

You can authenticate with GitHub Desktop using your browser. For more information, see Authenticating to GitHub in GitHub Desktop.

Authenticating with the API

You can authenticate with the API in different ways. For more information, see Authenticating to the REST API.

Authenticating to the API with a personal access token

If you want to use the GitHub REST API for personal use, you can create a personal access token. If possible, GitHub recommends that you use a fine-grained personal access token instead of a personal access token (classic). For more information about creating a personal access token, see Managing your personal access tokens.

Authenticating to the API with an app

If you want to use the API on behalf of an organization or another user, GitHub recommends that you use a GitHub App. For more information, see About authentication with a GitHub App.

You can also create an OAuth token with an OAuth app to access the REST API. However, GitHub recommends that you use a GitHub App instead. GitHub Apps allow more control over the access and permission that the app has.

Authenticating to the API in a GitHub Actions workflow

If you want to use the API in a GitHub Actions workflow, GitHub recommends that you authenticate with the built-in GITHUB_TOKEN instead of creating a token. You can grant permissions to the GITHUB_TOKEN with the permissions key.

Note that GITHUB_TOKEN can only access resources within the repository that contains the workflow. If you need to make changes to resources outside of the workflow repository, you will need to use a personal access token or GitHub App.

For more information, see Automatic token authentication.

Authenticating with the command line

You can access repositories on GitHub Enterprise Server from the command line in two ways, HTTPS and SSH, and both have a different way of authenticating. The method of authenticating is determined based on whether you choose an HTTPS or SSH remote URL when you clone the repository. For more information about which way to access, see About remote repositories.

HTTPS

You can work with all repositories on GitHub Enterprise Server over HTTPS, even if you are behind a firewall or proxy.

If you authenticate with GitHub CLI, you can either authenticate with a personal access token or via the web browser. For more information about authenticating with GitHub CLI, see gh auth login.

If you authenticate without GitHub CLI, you must authenticate with a personal access token. When Git prompts you for your password, enter your personal access token. Alternatively, you can use a credential helper like Git Credential Manager. Password-based authentication for Git has been removed in favor of more secure authentication methods. For more information, see Managing your personal access tokens. Every time you use Git to authenticate with GitHub Enterprise Server, you'll be prompted to enter your credentials to authenticate with GitHub Enterprise Server, unless you cache them with a credential helper.

SSH

You can work with all repositories on GitHub Enterprise Server over SSH, although firewalls and proxies might refuse to allow SSH connections.

If you authenticate with GitHub CLI, the CLI will find SSH public keys on your machine and will prompt you to select one for upload. If GitHub CLI does not find a SSH public key for upload, it can generate a new SSH public/private keypair and upload the public key to your account on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance. Then, you can either authenticate with a personal access token or via the web browser. For more information about authenticating with GitHub CLI, see gh auth login.

If you authenticate without GitHub CLI, you will need to generate an SSH public/private keypair on your local machine and add the public key to your account on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance. For more information, see Generating a new SSH key and adding it to the ssh-agent. Every time you use Git to authenticate with GitHub Enterprise Server, you'll be prompted to enter your SSH key passphrase, unless you've stored the key.

GitHub's token formats

GitHub issues tokens that begin with a prefix to indicate the token's type.

Token typePrefixMore information
Personal access token (classic)ghp_Managing your personal access tokens
Fine-grained personal access tokengithub_pat_Managing your personal access tokens
OAuth access tokengho_Authorizing OAuth apps
User access token for a GitHub Appghu_Authenticating with a GitHub App on behalf of a user
Installation access token for a GitHub Appghs_Authenticating as a GitHub App installation
Refresh token for a GitHub Appghr_Refreshing user access tokens