Git Credential Manager

Git Credential Manager (GCM) is a free, open-source Git credential helper for developers who authenticate to remote repositories. Git calls it when credentials are needed; it is not a general-purpose password vault or a full Git desktop client.

Features • Authenticate to GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, Azure DevOps/Repos, Bitbucket and GitLab, including supported multi-factor and OAuth sign-in flows. • Reuse valid credentials or tokens across Git operations, and store credentials in the macOS Keychain by default on Mac. • Use browser or device-code sign-in where supported, and integrate Microsoft authentication with the operating-system broker on supported, configured devices. • Handle network proxies and offer diagnostic commands for troubleshooting authentication and credential-store setup.

Install and use Install the Mac package with brew install --cask git-credential-manager, or open the official architecture-appropriate .pkg installer and follow its prompts. The installer may require administrator permission. You need Git to use this credential helper. Once installed and configured, use your normal Git workflow with an HTTP(S) repository URL; Git invokes GCM and may open a sign-in prompt. Later operations reuse valid stored tokens. GCM does not replace SSH-key authentication; configure SSH separately when using an SSH remote. Check helper configuration before adding duplicate credential helpers. The official guide provides git-credential-manager configure for installations that need configuration and git-credential-manager diagnose for troubleshooting.

Requirements and compatibility For GCM 3.x, upstream supports macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Apple Silicon packages are available; Intel Mac support is best effort. The current Homebrew metadata does not express this upstream OS minimum, so its empty dependency object must not be interpreted as support for older macOS. Standalone platform packages contain what they need and do not require a separate .NET installation. The alternative .NET-tool installation requires the .NET 10 SDK. Git 1.x is unsupported; upstream identifies Git 2.26.2 as incompatible and the fix as released in Git 2.27.0. No fixed RAM or installed-disk requirement is given in the cited documentation. The Mac cask lists no explicit cask conflict or extra formula dependency; older Java GCM/helper configurations may need migration rather than parallel configuration.

Microsoft broker and other platforms Microsoft broker authentication is enabled by default when supported. On Mac it requires Intune Company Portal and device enrollment. This is a requirement for that sign-in method, not for basic GCM installation or GitHub authentication. Organization policies may prompt device enrollment; review the official broker guide before signing in on a personal device. You can opt out with git config --global credential.msauthUseBroker false and use an appropriate non-broker flow. GCM 3.x also supports Windows 10+, Windows Server 2016+ and Linux distributions supported by .NET 10. Linux needs an explicitly configured credential store and the chosen distribution's runtime dependencies; the Homebrew Linux variation lists ICU. Official Windows x86 release binaries are removed in 3.0.1. This Mac package does not install a Windows or Linux edition.

Accounts, cost and license GCM itself is free under the MIT license and does not require a separate GCM subscription. Authentication requires an account or credentials accepted by your repository host; hosting, organizational access and cloud services have their own permissions, terms and possible fees. Network sign-in requires connectivity. GCM 3.x uses refreshable OAuth tokens by default for Azure Repos, while explicit PAT settings are still respected.

Official sources https://github.com/git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager https://github.com/git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager/blob/v3.0.1/docs/install.md https://github.com/git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager/blob/v3.0.1/docs/credstores.md https://github.com/git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager/blob/v3.0.1/docs/msauth-broker.md https://github.com/git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager/releases/tag/v3.0.1 https://github.com/git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager/blob/v3.0.1/LICENSE Cask details are from current Homebrew metadata. Images are official documentation examples with illustrative accounts; the broker interface depends on platform and setup. Download size is the Apple Silicon 3.0.1 .pkg asset size, not installed disk usage.