This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to use multiple Git accounts on the same device using HTTPS with Personal Access Tokens. It includes detailed steps on creating a Personal Access Token on GitHub, configuring Git on Windows to manage credentials, and setting specific usernames and emails for different repositories to avoid con…

how-to-use-multiple-git-accounts-on-same-device.md

How-To: Use Multiple Git Accounts on the Same Device

Using HTTPS with Personal Access Token

Reference: GitHub article

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1. Create a Personal Access Token on GitHub

1. Navigate to GitHub Personal Access Tokens:

   • Use the following link to create a global access token: New Personal Access Token (Classic).
   • The link to access Personal Access Token configuration is found under Settings > Developer Tools on your GitHub account.

2. Generate the Token:

   • Set the token expiration time to 90 days for enhanced security and easier management.
   • Store the generated token securely in a password manager like Bitwarden. This ensures that you can retrieve and use it safely without exposing it to unauthorized access.

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2. Configure Git on Windows

1. Erase Existing Credentials:

   • Before configuring new credentials, it's important to clear any existing credentials to prevent conflicts:

   echo "protocol=https`nhost=github.com" | git credential-manager erase

   This command removes the stored credentials for GitHub from the credential manager.

2. Configure Git to Cache Credentials for the Full Remote URL:

   • Setting Git to use the full remote URL ensures that credentials are cached specifically for each URL:

   git config --global credential.https://github.com.useHttpPath true

   Note: This command differs from the one provided in some GitHub instructions, which may cause errors. The provided command ensures proper configuration without errors.

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3. Verify and Set Username and Email for a Git Repository

1. Navigate to Your Repository:

   • Open your terminal or command prompt and navigate to your specific repository directory:

   cd /path/to/your/repository

2. Verify the Current Username and Email:

   • It's important to check the current configuration to understand what is set before making changes:

   git config user.name
   git config user.email

   This command will show the username and email currently configured for the repository.

3. Set the Username and Email for the Specific Repository:

   • Setting a specific username and email for a repository helps differentiate between different Git accounts:

   git config user.name "user-name"
   git config user.email "123456789+user-namel@users.noreply.github.com"

   Note: Using a "noreply" email address helps protect your privacy when contributing to public repositories. You can verify your email settings on GitHub here: GitHub Email Settings.

4. Verify the Changes:

   • After setting the new username and email, verify the changes to ensure they were applied correctly:

   git config user.name
   git config user.email

   Ensure the output matches the username and email you have set.

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Additional Information

• Impact of "Global" Git Settings:
  • Global Git settings (--global) apply to all repositories on your machine unless overridden by repository-specific settings. This means that when you create a new repository, it will inherit the global username and email settings unless you explicitly set different values for that repository.
  • To avoid conflicts and ensure the correct identity is used for each repository, always verify and set the repository-specific username and email as needed.