Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: Git: Permission denied (publickey) fatal - Could not read from remote repository. while cloning Git repository

Git permission denied error while cloning a repository on Windows.

Quick Answer: Try adding the Git username and password to your Git credentials using the `git config` command, or use a Git client with built-in credential management like Git Bash.

Git permission denied errors can occur due to various reasons such as incorrect SSH keys, outdated Git version, or missing credentials. In this article, we will explore the root causes of this error and provide step-by-step fixes to resolve it.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • Incorrect SSH keys or missing publickey

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Method 1: Update Git Version and SSH Keys

  1. Step 1: Open a terminal or command prompt and update Git to the latest version using `git --version`.
  2. Step 2: Generate new SSH keys using `ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096`. Copy the public key generated into your Git configuration file located at `~/.ssh/config` or `C:\.ssh/config` (depending on your operating system).

Method 2: Use Git Credential Helper

  1. Step 1: Install the Git credential helper using `git config --global credential.helper store`. This will allow you to store your credentials securely.
  2. Step 2: Run the command `git config --global user.passwordStore true` to enable password storage.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Git permission denied error and successfully clone your repository. Remember to always keep your SSH keys up-to-date and securely store your credentials using a credential helper.

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