HOW TO RESET PASSWORD w/o losing access!

[IriePharm]

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I need my password to authorize my local git to tunnel github, but I am having issues remembering my github password to authorize the sync on my terminal. I don't know why my password managers have no record of my password, but they don't. When I try to reset it I end up between a 2FV loop between my gh mobile app, and OTP authorizing apps. I'm assuming dismantling the 2FV systems and using my email is the only way, but curious if there is a better way. Can anyone set me straight?

[zenjichen]

You’ve managed to lock yourself out of your own house using two different keys at the same time. Impressive.

Here’s the straight answer: there is no magical “reset password but keep everything exactly as-is and skip 2FA” button. GitHub treats 2FA like it matters. Because it does.

Now let’s untangle this without lighting your account on fire.

First: You probably don’t even need your password

For local Git operations, GitHub does not use account passwords anymore. If you’re pushing over HTTPS, you need a Personal Access Token (PAT). If you’re using SSH, you need your SSH key, not your password.

So step one:
Check how your remote is configured:

git remote -v

If it starts with:

https://github.com/... → you need a PAT

git@github.com:... → you’re using SSH keys

If you already have working SSH keys set up, your password is irrelevant. Completely. Your terminal will never ask for it again.

Now about the 2FA loop

You mentioned a loop between:

GitHub mobile app

OTP authenticator app

That usually means one of these:

Your authenticator codes are out of sync

You have multiple 2FA methods enabled and GitHub wants a specific one

You’re accidentally trying to log in somewhere that’s already partially authenticated

What to try before “dismantling everything”:

1. Use recovery codes

When you enabled 2FA, GitHub gave you recovery codes.
If you saved them (please tell me you saved them), use one of those.

2. Use a passkey (if enabled)

If you enabled passkeys on a device, try signing in from that device directly.

3. Make sure your authenticator time is synced

Authenticator apps break if your phone clock drifts.
Turn on automatic time sync in phone settings. That alone fixes a shocking number of “2FA loop” dramas.

If You Truly Cannot Access 2FA

Then yes. The nuclear option:

You go through GitHub account recovery.
GitHub will:

Remove 2FA after identity verification

Force a password reset

Log you out everywhere

Revoke tokens

There is no bypass that preserves everything. That would defeat the point of 2FA.

The Better Long-Term Fix (Once You're Back In)

When you regain access:

Generate a Personal Access Token

Switch to SSH authentication for Git

Save recovery codes somewhere real

Consider using passkeys instead of OTP

SSH is the cleanest solution for local Git. You authenticate once with a keypair and then your password becomes a background character.

Brutal Truth

If you're stuck in a 2FA loop and don’t have recovery codes, there is no clever workaround. GitHub support is the only path. That’s by design.

Security systems are great until you are the attacker.

Fix the access first. Then switch your Git workflow to SSH so you never have to type your GitHub password into a terminal ever again.

Humanity built distributed version control and still can’t remember passwords. I both admire and fear us.

[Saif8671]

You cannot use your GitHub account password for Git operations over HTTPS anymore.

GitHub removed password authentication for Git in 2021.

✅ What You Should Use Instead
Option 1 (Recommended): Personal Access Token (PAT)

Instead of your password:

Log into GitHub in your browser.

Go to Settings → Developer Settings → Personal Access Tokens

Generate a new token (classic is fine).

Give it repo scope.

Use the token as your password when Git prompts in terminal.

Username → your GitHub username
Password → the PAT

Option 2 (Better Long-Term): SSH Key (No Password Needed)
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

Add the public key to GitHub → Settings → SSH and GPG keys

After that, pushes won’t ask for password again.

🔐 About the 2FA Loop

If you're stuck between:

GitHub Mobile approval

OTP authenticator

Use:

Recovery codes (downloaded when you enabled 2FA)

Or disable one 2FA method after logging in via browser

You do not need to dismantle 2FA completely.

🚫 Do NOT:

Keep trying your account password in terminal

Disable 2FA unless absolutely necessary

[itxashancode]

You're confusing password reset with 2FA recovery. Resetting your GitHub password won't disable 2FA - you'll still need a second factor to log in. The loop happens because you're trying to log in with 2FA, not just reset a password.

First, check your authenticator app's time sync. On Google Authenticator, go to Settings > Time correction for codes. A time drift is a common cause.

If you have your GitHub backup codes (saved when you enabled 2FA), use one of those during login. That's the intended escape hatch.

For git operations, you don't need your GitHub password at all if you use SSH keys. Run ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com" if you don't have a key, then add the public key to your GitHub account under Settings > SSH and GPG keys. Then change your remote URL to SSH: `git remote set-url origin git.