Skip to content

How to set GitHub credentials for macOS

Set up GitHub authentication so you can use it from VS Code or the command line.

I normally use the GitHub Desktop app to interact with my GitHub account, the only place I use for Git repositories for all my code and websites.

But there are times you need to use the git command line, or perhaps the Git integration in VS Code.

Without these steps, you’d get an authentication issue if you try.

Let’s set it up.

I assume you have Homebrew installed.

From the command line, run:

brew install gh

and then use the gh tool:

gh auth login

Then answer a few questions.

Choose HTTPS:

Choose Y:

And proceed to login with the browser:

Click Authorize GitHub:

And you’re set:

Go back to your terminal or VS Code, and things will work as expected.


→ Here's my latest YouTube video

→ I wrote 17 books to help you become a better developer, download them all at $0 cost by joining my newsletter

JOIN MY CODING BOOTCAMP, an amazing cohort course that will be a huge step up in your coding career - covering React, Next.js - next edition February 2025

Bootcamp 2025

Join the waiting list