How to test SSH connection to GitHub

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Verifying your SSH connection to GitHub ensures your authentication is properly configured before attempting git operations. As the creator of CoreUI, a widely used open-source UI library, I’ve troubleshot SSH authentication issues countless times throughout my 25 years of development experience. The most reliable method is using the ssh -T command with GitHub’s hostname to test the connection. This approach immediately confirms whether your SSH key is recognized and properly authenticated.

Use the ssh -T command to test your GitHub SSH connection.

ssh -T [email protected]

Here the ssh command attempts to establish a connection to GitHub’s git server using the -T flag to disable pseudo-terminal allocation. If successful, you’ll receive a message like “Hi username! You’ve successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.” This confirms your SSH key is properly added to your GitHub account and the connection works. If it fails, you’ll see permission denied errors indicating issues with your SSH key configuration.

Best Practice Note:

This is the same verification method we use in CoreUI development workflows to ensure team members have proper SSH access configured. If the test fails, check that your SSH key is added to your GitHub account settings and that the correct key is loaded in your SSH agent using ssh-add -l.

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About the Author

Łukasz Holeczek, Founder of CoreUI, is a seasoned Fullstack Developer and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. As the lead developer for all JavaScript, React.js, and Vue.js products at CoreUI, they specialize in creating open-source solutions that empower developers to build better and more accessible user interfaces.

With expertise in TypeScript, JavaScript, Node.js, and modern frameworks like React.js, Vue.js, and Next.js, Łukasz combines technical mastery with a passion for UI/UX design and accessibility. CoreUI’s mission is to provide developers with tools that enhance productivity while adhering to accessibility standards.

Łukasz shares its extensive knowledge through a blog with technical software development articles. It also advises enterprise companies on building solutions from A to Z. Through CoreUI, it offers professional services, technical support, and open-core products that help developers and businesses achieve their goals.

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