Cannot authenticate to Github through Sourcetree desktop

Question

I am using the latest version of Sourcetree desktop (version 2.4.8.0), and it keeps asking me for GitHub authentication. No matter what I enter there (username, email, password, github generated token), it keeps popping again. Note that I am able to authenticate to my Github account successfully through web, so that's not a spelling issue. I have also contacted the Hithub support already, they have advised to upgrade to the latest version of Sourcetree and then contact you if it doesn't help.

Do you have any ideas what's causing this and how it can be fixed

Andrew Magill · Answer

The problem is that SourceTree's embedded Git client comes with git-credential-manager v1.12, which no longer works with Github since they disabled TLS 1.1 on their site.  You need to get git-credential-manager v1.14.  Easiest way to do that is to install a current copy of the Git client separately, and then switch SourceTree over to use that ("system git") instead of its embedded client.  Alternatively, you can update git-credential-manager in your embedded client by replacing its files with the newest version from Microsoft.

I'm kind of stunned that Atlassian doesn't seem to be acutely aware of this issue.

Mike Corsaro · Answer

Hello! Could you try the following:

* Remove the account via the options screen
* Try pulling again
* Insert your username + password

If that doesn't work, try adding the GitHub account with OAuth:

* Options > Accounts
* Add a new account, but set "Authentication" to "OAuth"
* Login, switch back to Sourcetree
* Try pulling again