How to use SSH keys in Git

Monday, December 15, 2025

Using SSH keys for Git authentication provides secure, passwordless access to remote repositories with better security than HTTPS credentials. As the creator of CoreUI with over 25 years of development experience, I’ve configured SSH authentication for countless development teams and projects. The most effective solution is to generate an SSH key pair and add the public key to your Git hosting service. This approach eliminates password prompts while providing strong cryptographic authentication.

Generate and use SSH keys for secure Git authentication.

# Generate new SSH key
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C '[email protected]'

# Or use RSA if ed25519 is not supported
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C '[email protected]'

# Start SSH agent
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

# Add SSH key to agent
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

# Display public key to copy
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

# Test SSH connection to GitHub
ssh -T [email protected]

# Clone repository using SSH
git clone [email protected]:username/repository.git

# Change existing repository to use SSH
git remote set-url origin [email protected]:username/repository.git

The ssh-keygen command creates a public-private key pair. The ed25519 algorithm is modern and secure, while RSA is more compatible with older systems. The private key (id_ed25519) stays on your machine, while the public key (id_ed25519.pub) is added to your Git hosting service (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket). After adding your public key to the service, Git uses SSH for authentication automatically when using SSH URLs.

Best Practice Note

This is the same SSH key setup we use for CoreUI repository access across all team members. Always protect your private key with a strong passphrase and never share it. Use different SSH keys for different services or organizations for better security isolation. Add your SSH key to ssh-agent to avoid entering the passphrase repeatedly during your session.

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About the Author

Łukasz Holeczek, Founder of CoreUI, is a seasoned Fullstack Developer and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. As the lead developer for all JavaScript, React.js, and Vue.js products at CoreUI, they specialize in creating open-source solutions that empower developers to build better and more accessible user interfaces.

With expertise in TypeScript, JavaScript, Node.js, and modern frameworks like React.js, Vue.js, and Next.js, Łukasz combines technical mastery with a passion for UI/UX design and accessibility. CoreUI’s mission is to provide developers with tools that enhance productivity while adhering to accessibility standards.

Łukasz shares its extensive knowledge through a blog with technical software development articles. It also advises enterprise companies on building solutions from A to Z. Through CoreUI, it offers professional services, technical support, and open-core products that help developers and businesses achieve their goals.

Learn more about CoreUI’s solutions and see how your business can benefit from working with us.