Updating your GitHub access credentials

GitHub credentials include not only your password, but also the access tokens, SSH keys, and application API tokens you use to communicate with GitHub. Should you have the need, you can reset all of these access credentials yourself.

In this article

Requesting a new password

  1. To request a new password, visit https://github.com/password_reset.

  2. Enter the email address associated with your account, then click Send password reset email. The email will be sent to the backup email address if you have one configured.

  3. We'll email you a link that will allow you to reset your password. You must click on this link within 3 hours of receiving the email. If you didn't receive an email from us, make sure to check your spam folder.

  4. If you have enabled two-factor authentication, you will be prompted for your 2FA credentials:

    • If you have GitHub Mobile, you will be sent a push notification to verify your identity. Open the push notification or the GitHub Mobile app and enter the two-digit code shown to you on the password reset page in your browser.

      • To skip using GitHub Mobile to verify, click Enter two-factor authentication or recovery code.

    • Type your authentication code or one of your recovery codes and click Verify.

      • If you have added a security key to your account, click Use security key instead of typing an authentication code.

      • If you have set up GitHub Mobile, click Authenticate with GitHub Mobile instead.

      • If you have forgotten your password and you've lost access to your two-factor authentication credentials, click Start a 2FA recovery request. For more information, see "Recovering your account if you lose your 2FA credentials."

  5. In the text field under Password, type a new password. Then, in the text field under Confirm password, type the password again.

  6. Click Change password. For help creating a strong password, see "Creating a strong password."

To avoid losing your password in the future, we suggest using a secure password manager.

Changing an existing password

When you type a password to sign in, create an account, or change your password, GitHub will check if the password you entered is considered weak according to datasets like HaveIBeenPwned. The password may be identified as weak even if you have never used that password before.

GitHub only inspects the password at the time you type it, and never stores the password you entered in plaintext. For more information, see HaveIBeenPwned.

  1. Sign in to GitHub.
  2. In the upper-right corner of any page on GitHub, click your profile photo, then click Settings.
  3. In the "Access" section of the sidebar, click Password and authentication.
  4. Under "Change password", type your old password, a strong new password, and confirm your new password. For help creating a strong password, see "Creating a strong password."
  5. Click Update password.

For greater security, enable two-factor authentication in addition to changing your password. See About two-factor authentication for more details.

Updating your access tokens

See "Reviewing and revoking authorization of GitHub Apps" for instructions on reviewing and deleting access tokens. To generate new access tokens, see "Managing your personal access tokens."

If you have reset your account password and would also like to trigger a sign-out from the GitHub Mobile app, you can revoke your authorization of the "GitHub iOS" or "GitHub Android" OAuth app. This will sign out all instances of the GitHub Mobile app associated with your account. For additional information, see "Reviewing and revoking authorization of GitHub Apps."

Updating your SSH keys

See "Reviewing your SSH keys" for instructions on reviewing and deleting SSH keys. To generate and add new SSH keys, see "Connecting to GitHub with SSH."

Resetting API tokens

If you have any applications registered with GitHub, you'll want to reset their OAuth tokens. For more information, see the PATCH /applications/{client_id}/token endpoint in "REST API endpoints for OAuth authorizations."

Preventing unauthorized access

For more tips on securing your account and preventing unauthorized access, see "Preventing unauthorized access."