Username and password in command for git push

Question

It\'s possible to clone down a git repository, specifying username and password in the command. Example:

git clone https://username:password@myrepository.biz/f

Answer 1

Git will not store the password when you use URLs like that. Instead, it will just store the username, so it only needs to prompt you for the password the next time. As explained in the manual, to store the password, you should use an external credential helper. For Windows, you can use the Windows Credential Store for Git. This helper is also included by default in GitHub for Windows.

When using it, your password will automatically be remembered, so you only need to enter it once. So when you clone, you will be asked for your password, and then every further communication with the remote will not prompt you for your password again. Instead, the credential helper will provide Git with the authentication.

This of course only works for authentication via https; for ssh access (git@host.com/repository.git) you use SSH keys and those you can remember using ssh-agent (or PuTTY’s pageant if you’re using plink).