How to Clone a Private GitHub Repository Using a Personal Access Token (PAT)

Cloning private repositories on GitHub requires authentication. Since GitHub removed password-based authentication, the recommended way is to use a Personal Access Token (PAT). In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to securely clone your private GitHub repository using a Personal Access Token — step by step.

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🔒 What Is a Personal Access Token?

A Personal Access Token (PAT) is a secure alternative to your GitHub password. It allows you to authenticate Git operations (like clone, pull, or push) over HTTPS. Tokens can be fine-tuned with specific permissions and expiration dates, making them safer than traditional passwords.

💡 Think of a PAT as a temporary key that grants your system limited access to your GitHub repositories.

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🧭 Step 1: Generate a Personal Access Token

1. Log in to GitHub

Go to github.com and sign in to your account.

2. Open Developer Settings

Click on your profile picture → Settings → scroll down → Developer settings.

3. Create a New Token

Navigate to:

Personal access tokens → Tokens (classic) or Fine-grained tokens

Click Generate new token.

4. Configure the Token

• Note: Give your token a descriptive name (e.g., “Private Repo Clone”).
• Expiration: Choose a suitable expiration period (e.g., 30 or 90 days).
• Scopes/Permissions:
  For cloning a private repo, enable:
  • repo → Full control of private repositories
  • Optionally, read:org if the repo is under an organization.

5. Generate and Copy

Click Generate token and copy it immediately — GitHub won’t show it again!

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💻 Step 2: Clone the Private Repository

A. Copy Your Repository URL

In GitHub, go to your private repository → click Code → copy the HTTPS URL.

Example:

https://github.com/manojdamor/private-project.git

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B. Clone Using the Token

Now open your terminal (or Git Bash) and run:

git clone https://github.com/USERNAME/REPOSITORY.git

When prompted for a username, enter your GitHub username.
When asked for a password, paste the Personal Access Token you generated.

Example:

git clone https://github.com/manojdamor/private-project.git
Username: manojdamor
Password: <paste your token here>

✅ Git will now clone your private repository locally.

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Alternative: Inline Token (Quick Method)

You can also embed the token directly in the URL (not recommended for shared systems):

git clone https://<TOKEN>@github.com/USERNAME/REPOSITORY.git

Example:

git clone https://[email protected]/manojdamor/private-project.git

⚠️ Warning: Avoid this method if others share your machine, since the token will be stored in your shell history.

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🔁 Step 3: (Optional) Save Your Credentials

If you frequently work with GitHub, store your credentials so you don’t have to enter the token every time:

git config --global credential.helper store

Next time you clone or push, Git will remember your credentials.

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🧹 Step 4: Manage and Revoke Tokens

Go back to Settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens anytime to:

• View your active tokens
• Revoke old ones
• Generate new ones

🔐 Tip: Rotate tokens regularly and delete any that are no longer needed.

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🚀 Final Thoughts

Using a Personal Access Token is now the official and most secure way to clone private repositories from GitHub. It ensures better control, transparency, and safety compared to passwords.

Whether you’re a developer, editor, or creator storing project files in private repos, PATs make your workflow smooth and secure.

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Written by: Manoj Damor
Web Developer & Tech Creator
Travel with Manoj – YouTube Channel

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