Coding⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: GitHub Error: Key already in use

GitHub Error: Key already in use solution

Quick Answer: To resolve the 'Key already in use' error, remove the existing public key from your GitHub account and add a new one using the `git config --global userkey` command.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 🎯 Final Words

The 'Key already in use' error on GitHub occurs when you attempt to add a public key to your repository that is already associated with another GitHub account. This issue affects users who have created multiple accounts and are trying to manage their repositories across both accounts.

This error can be frustrating, especially for developers who rely on automated workflows or continuous integration pipelines. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to resolve this issue and add your public key to your repository.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that GitHub does not allow multiple public keys to be associated with a single account. This is in place to prevent unauthorized access to repositories and maintain security.
  • Alternatively, it's possible that the public key you're trying to add is actually from your secondary account, which may not have been configured correctly or may not be recognized by GitHub.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Adding a new public key to your primary account

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Log in to your primary GitHub account and navigate to your profile page. Click on the 'SSH and GPG keys' tab.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Click on the 'New SSH key' button and enter a label for your new public key (e.g., 'Work Repository'). Paste the contents of your work repository's public key into the text box, and click 'Add SSH key'.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: If you want to use this public key with your secondary account as well, repeat steps 1-2 for that account.

Using a different public key for your secondary account

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Log in to your secondary GitHub account and navigate to the 'SSH and GPG keys' tab.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Click on the 'New SSH key' button and enter a label for your new public key (e.g., 'Work Repository'). Paste the contents of your work repository's public key into the text box, and click 'Add SSH key'.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Once you have added the public key to your secondary account, you can use it with your work repository. Note that this method assumes that you want to manage both accounts separately.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Key already in use' error on GitHub and add your public key to your repository. Remember to always prioritize security when managing your GitHub accounts and repositories.

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