GitHub 'Password Authentication Was Removed' Error

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Create a token and use it as the password

   Copy steps
   1. Open GitHub > Settings > Developer settings > Personal access tokens
   2. Create a fine-grained token (github_pat_...) with access to the repository and Contents: read and write, or a classic token (ghp_...) with the repo scope
   3. When Git asks for a password, paste the token
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Clear the stale cached credential

   Copy steps
   1. macOS: open Keychain Access, search github.com and delete the entry
   2. Windows: Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials > remove git:https://github.com
   3. Run git push again and enter the token when prompted
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Let GitHub CLI or Git Credential Manager handle login

   Copy steps
   1. Install GitHub CLI and run gh auth login, choose HTTPS and sign in through the browser
   2. Or install Git Credential Manager, which caches the token so you are not prompted every time
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Authorize the token for SAML SSO organizations

   Copy steps
   1. Open Settings > Developer settings > Personal access tokens
   2. Next to the token click Configure SSO and Authorize for the organization
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. 5. Switch the remote to SSH

   Copy steps
   1. Add an SSH key to your account
   2. Run git remote set-url origin git@github.com:OWNER/REPO.git
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

git push or clone over HTTPS fails with 'remote: Support for password authentication was removed' or 'Invalid username or password' and 'Authentication failed'.

Why it happens

• Git over HTTPS only accepts personal access tokens, not the account password
• An old password is cached in the OS keychain or credential manager
• The token has expired or lacks the right scope/repository access
• The organization uses SAML SSO and the token is not authorized for it

This guide also covers

• support for password authentication was removed
• github authentication failed git push
• github personal access token password
• remote invalid username or password github

Other GitHub errors

• GitHub Permission Denied (publickey) Error
• GitHub Push Rejected: Updates Were Rejected (Non-Fast-Forward)
• GitHub Push Blocked: Repository Rule Violations (GH013 / Secret Detected)
• GitHub Push Rejected: File Exceeds 100 MB Limit
• GitHub 'Permission Denied' or 403 When Pushing Over HTTPS
• GitHub Locked Out: Lost 2FA Device or Recovery Codes
• GitHub Actions Workflow Stuck in Queued / Waiting for a Runner
• GitHub Actions: 'Recent Account Payments Have Failed or Spending Limit Needs to Be Increased'