How to Change Git Username in Terminal?

Suppose you're using Git for version control. In that case, you might want to change your Git username for various reasons—whether it's for correcting a typo, updating it to a new username, or switching to a different account.

You can change your Git username in two ways:

• Globally: This sets the username for all Git repositories on your system.
• Locally: This sets the username only for the specific repository you're working on.

These are the following ways to Change the Git Username in the Terminal:

Change Git Username Globally

Changing your Git username globally means it will apply to all repositories on your machine. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open your terminal

If you are on Linux or macOS, you can open the terminal by searching for it or using the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T. On Windows, you can open the command prompt or Git Bash.

Step 2: Use the following command to set a new global username

git config --global user.name "Your New Username"

Replace "Your New Username" with the desired username you want Git to use.

Step 3: Verify the change

To ensure that your Git username was updated successfully, you can check it again:

git config --global user.name

If the output shows your new username, the global change has been applied successfully.

Change the Git Username for a Specific Repository

If you only want to change the Git username for a specific project or repository, follow these steps:

Step 1: Navigate to the repository

First, navigate to the repository where you want to change the username by using the cd command in the terminal:

cd path/to/your/repository

Step 2: Set a new local username for that repository

Once you're inside the repository, use the following command:

git config user.name "Your New Username"

Again, replace "Your New Username" with the username you want to use for this specific repository.

Step 3: Verify the local change

You can check the repository’s local Git configuration by running:

git config user.name

If the output shows the updated username, it has been applied locally to this repository.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Changing your Git username is generally straightforward, but here are a few common issues you might encounter:

• Username Change Not Reflecting on Git Hosting Platforms: After changing your username locally or globally, the new username will only apply to future commits. Your previous commits will still reflect the old username unless you rewrite the commit history using more advanced Git operations like git rebase or git filter-branch.
• Incorrect Path for Local Repository: If the terminal says "No such file or directory," you might not be on the correct path to the repository. Use the pwd command (on Unix-based systems) to check your current path and make sure you're in the correct folder.
• Permission Denied Errors: If you're using Git with an online repository such as GitHub or GitLab, make sure that your credentials match the new username, especially if you're using SSH keys or access tokens. If there’s a mismatch, Git might deny permission.
• Cached Credentials: If you're using cached credentials (especially with HTTPS connections to platforms like GitHub), you may need to clear your cache after changing your username:

git credential-cache exit

Conclusion

Changing your Git username in the terminal is a simple task that can be done either globally or locally for a specific repository. Remember to verify your changes to ensure that the new username is applied correctly. Whether you’re updating your personal information or switching to a new identity, these commands will help you configure your Git username with ease. By following the steps above, you can efficiently update your Git username and avoid confusion in your project’s commit history.