How to Change Git Account in Terminal?

Git is a powerful version control system that allows developers to manage their code and collaborate effectively. However, you may need to switch between different Git accounts for various reasons, such as working on multiple projects with different collaborators or organizations. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process of changing your Git account in the terminal, ensuring that your commits are attributed to the correct account.

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Why Change Your Git Account?

There are several scenarios where you might want to change your Git account:

1. Multiple Accounts: You may have a personal account and a work account, each associated with different repositories.
2. Collaborating on Different Projects: If you work with various organizations, you might need to switch accounts frequently.
3. Privacy Concerns: You might want to separate your personal projects from professional ones to maintain privacy.

Regardless of the reason, changing your Git account is a straightforward process that involves updating your Git configuration.

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Prerequisites

1. Git Installed: Ensure that Git is installed on your machine. You can check by running:

   git --version

2. Access to the Terminal: You’ll be using the command line, so be comfortable with navigating through the terminal.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Change Your Git Account in Terminal

Step 1: Open Your Terminal

Open the terminal application on your computer. This could be Terminal on macOS or Linux, or Git Bash on Windows.

Step 2: Check Your Current Git Configuration

Before making any changes, it’s useful to check your current Git configuration settings. Run the following command to view your current username and email:

git config --global user.name
git config --global user.email

This will display the username and email currently set in your global Git configuration.

Step 3: Change Your Git Username and Email

To change your Git account, you need to update your username and email address in the global configuration. Run the following commands:

git config --global user.name "Your New Username"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

Replace "Your New Username" and [email protected] with the new username and email address you want to use.

Step 4: Verify the Changes

After updating your configuration, verify that the changes were applied successfully:

git config --global user.name
git config --global user.email

This should now reflect your new username and email address.

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Changing Account for a Specific Repository

If you only want to change the Git account for a specific repository instead of globally, you can do so by navigating to that repository’s directory and omitting the --global flag. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to the Repository:

   cd path/to/your/repository

2. Set the Local Configuration: Run the same commands without the --global flag:

   git config user.name "Your New Username"
   git config user.email "[email protected]"

3. Verify the Changes: Check the local configuration to confirm:

   git config user.name
   git config user.email

This will change the Git account settings only for that specific repository, leaving your global settings unchanged.

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Step 5: Update SSH Keys (if necessary)

If you’re switching to a different account that uses a different SSH key, you’ll need to update your SSH key configuration. Here’s how:

1. Check Existing SSH Keys: List your existing SSH keys:

   ls -al ~/.ssh

2. Generate a New SSH Key (if needed): If you don’t have an SSH key for the new account, generate one:

   ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]"

Follow the prompts to save the key to a specific file (e.g., ~/.ssh/id_rsa_newaccount).

3. Add the SSH Key to Your SSH Agent: Start the SSH agent and add your new key:

   eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
   ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa_newaccount

4. Add the SSH Key to Your GitHub/GitLab Account: Copy the SSH key to your clipboard:

   cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa_newaccount.pub

Then, add it to your GitHub or GitLab account under the SSH keys section.

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Summary

Changing your Git account in the terminal is a simple process that can help you manage your projects effectively. By updating your username and email, you can ensure that your commits are attributed correctly, whether you’re working on personal projects or collaborating with a team. Here’s a quick recap of the steps:

1. Open your terminal and check your current Git configuration.
2. Change your username and email globally or locally for a specific repository.
3. If necessary, update your SSH keys to match your new account.