How To Set Up GitHub SSH Keys On macOS

SSH keys let your computer authenticate with GitHub securely. After setup, you can push and pull code without entering a GitHub password each time.

Step 1: Check For Existing SSH Keys

Run:

ls -al ~/.ssh

Look for files like:

id_ed25519
id_ed25519.pub

The .pub file is the public key. The file without .pub is the private key.

Step 2: Generate A New SSH Key

Run:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com"

When it asks for a file location, press Enter to accept the default path:

~/.ssh/id_ed25519

You can add a passphrase for extra protection or press Enter to skip it.

Step 3: Start The SSH Agent

Run:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

This starts the local SSH agent.

Step 4: Add The Key To The Agent

Run:

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

If you used a passphrase, macOS may ask for it.

Step 5: Copy The Public Key

Run:

pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

This copies the public key to your clipboard.

Step 6: Add The Key To GitHub

• Open GitHub.
• Go to Settings.
• Open SSH and GPG keys.
• Click New SSH key.
• Add a clear title such as MacBook Personal Portfolio.
• Paste the full public key.
• Save it.

The public key usually starts with:

ssh-ed25519

It is safe to paste the public key into GitHub. Never share the private key.

Step 7: Test The Connection

Run:

ssh -T git@github.com

The first time, type yes if Git asks whether to trust github.com.

If setup worked, GitHub responds with a success message that includes your username.

Step 8: Use SSH For Your Repository

Inside your project folder, run:

git remote set-url origin git@github.com:your-username/your-repo.git

Then push:

git push

Step 9: Troubleshoot Common Issues

• Permission denied publickey means GitHub does not recognize your SSH key.
• Host key verification failed means github.com is not trusted in known_hosts yet.
• Could not resolve hostname usually means the remote URL is incorrect.

Final Safety Note

The public key can be added to GitHub. The private key should stay only on your machine.