How to Fix: SSH 'Host key verification failed' error

The SSH 'Host key verification failed' error occurs when the client (usually a remote access user) is unable to verify the server's identity by matching the host key with the expected value. This issue affects users who have generated their SSH keys and uploaded them to GitHub, but mistakenly copied the public key directly from the private key file.

This error can be frustrating as it prevents users from establishing a secure connection to GitHub. However, troubleshooting this issue is relatively straightforward and can be resolved by following the steps outlined below.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

• The primary reason for this error is that the SSH public key was copied directly from the private key file (id_rsa.pub), which contains the expected host key. This causes the client to reject the connection as it cannot verify the server's identity.
• An alternative reason could be that the SSH public key was not properly formatted or corrupted, leading to a mismatch between the expected and actual host keys.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the SSH 'Host key verification failed' error, verify that the SSH public key is properly formatted and updated in GitHub's settings page. If necessary, regenerate the public key using the `ssh-keygen` command and update the remote repository accordingly.