How to Clone a GitHub Repository on macOS Using SSH

Having trouble cloning a GitHub repository on your Mac? This guide will walk you through setting up SSH keys and cloning your repository securely using SSH. Let’s get started!

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Generate a New SSH Key

If you don’t already have an SSH key, generate one with the following command:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[email protected]"

Replace "[email protected]" with your GitHub email address. If you’re using an older system that doesn’t support Ed25519, use RSA:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]"

When prompted to “Enter a file in which to save the key,” press Enter to accept the default location. Optionally, you can set a passphrase for added security.

2. Add the SSH Key to the SSH Agent

Start the SSH agent in the background:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

Add your SSH private key to the SSH agent:

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

If you used a different file name for the key, replace id_ed25519 with the appropriate name.

3. Add the SSH Key to Your GitHub Account

Copy the SSH key to your clipboard:

pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Or, if you’re using RSA:

pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

Next, go to GitHub SSH settings and click “New SSH key.” Paste the key into the “Key” field, give it a descriptive title, and click “Add SSH key.”

4. Test Your SSH Connection

Test the connection to ensure everything is set up correctly:

ssh -T [email protected]

You should see a message like this:

Hi username! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

5. Retry Cloning the Repository

Now that your SSH key is set up, retry cloning the repository:

git clone [email protected]:username/repository.git /path/to/your/local/directory

Replace username/repository with the actual username and repository name, and /path/to/your/local/directory with the desired local path.

Conclusion:

By following these steps, you should be able to clone your GitHub repository using SSH on your Mac without any issues. If you encounter further problems, double-check your access rights and the repository URL. Happy coding!