How to Use Multiple GitHub Accounts Without SSH on Windows (Using Windows Credentials Manager)

Managing multiple GitHub accounts on Windows can be tricky, especially when dealing with credentials. Here's a step-by-step guide to handle this efficiently using Windows Credential Manager and project-specific configurations.

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Step 1: Remove Existing GitHub Credentials

Before starting, clear any saved GitHub credentials to avoid conflicts:

1. Open Control Panel → Credential Manager.
2. Switch to the Windows Credentials tab.
3. Look for entries like git:https://github.com and remove them.

This ensures a clean slate for adding new credentials.

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Step 2: Configure Git Username and Password for a Specific Project

To associate a GitHub account with a specific project:

1. Navigate to your project's .git folder (ensure hidden files are visible).
2. Open the config file in a text editor.
3. Add the following under the [remote "origin"] section:

   [remote "origin"]
       url = https://your-username:[e-mail]/your-repo-name.git

Replace:

• your-username with your GitHub username.
• your-personal-access-token with your Personal Access Token (PAT).
• your-repo-name with your repository's path.

1. Save the file.

This stores credentials for that specific project and prevents Git from asking for authentication each time.

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Step 3: Use Another GitHub Account in a Different Project

For other projects, simply clone or initialize the repository as usual. When you push or pull, Git will prompt you to log in via your browser.

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Step 4: Switching Between Accounts

After setting up multiple accounts:

• First Project: Credentials saved in the config file will be used automatically.
• Other Projects: Git will prompt you to select or enter credentials. To avoid repeated prompts, repeat Step 2 for each project with the desired account.

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Step 5: Removing Project-Specific Credentials

If you want to remove or update credentials for a project:

1. Open the .git/config file.
2. Remove or modify the url under [remote "origin"].

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Step 6: Generating a Personal Access Token (PAT)

GitHub now requires a Personal Access Token instead of a password. Here’s how to generate one:

1. Go to your GitHub Profile → Settings.
2. Navigate to Developer Settings → Personal Access Tokens → Tokens (classic).
3. Click Generate New Token and select the required scopes (e.g., repo, workflow).
4. Copy the token and use it as the password in Step 2.

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Final Notes

• This method ensures smooth switching between multiple GitHub accounts without SSH.
• Be cautious about storing credentials in the URL; only do so for non-sensitive projects.