# Multiple GitHub accounts on a machine (Windows)

Most of the developers have more than one GitHub account , say **Work** and **Personal** . Using two different systems for each GitHub account is fairly easy to handle but how to manage two accounts on same system ? 

I have faced this situation many times, my laziness of not documenting the steps (I also don't have a very good memory :-p) made me spent a decent amount of time in collecting bits and pieces to accomplish the task.  

Since you are reading through this , you must be facing the same issue. Let's start solving the problem through below steps : 


> 
for the sake of understanding we would assume that your machine already has a GitHub account wired-up named as  **work**.  With below steps, we will configure a new account named as **personal**.


# **Generate SSH keys for **personal** account**


   - run below command in command prompt
         ssh-keygen -t rsa -C “your-email-address”
   - Provide the location where you want to store the newly generated keys 
       
    > 
    Generating public/private rsa key pair. 
    Enter file in which to save the key (C:\Users\your.username/.ssh/id_rsa):
    
    Make sure not to override **id_rsa** as this could be your existing key for **work **account. Provide an identifiable name - similar to this: **C:\Users\your.username/.ssh/id_rsa_personal**

- Optionally provide a passphrase for the newly generated key , enter twice to leave it blank

- You should be able to see SSH key files generated at given location. This has two files : -
    
     1.  **id_rsa_personal** : This is private key to be stored on your system.
     2. **id_rsa_personal.pub** : This is public key which we will configure with GitHub in coming steps.  


 # **Add SSH key to GitHub account**


   - Copy the contents of **id_rsa_personal.pub** (this file can be opened using and text editor like notepad) and login to your GitHub account.
   - Navigate to **Settings -> SSH and GPG keys** , click on **New SSH Key** button
      
     ![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1602604573946/2H1wTFZVJ.png)
       
- Paste the copied content of **id_rsa_personal.pub** into key field. Optionally provide a unique title to this key.
            
# **Update Git Config file**

Since a new SSH key has been created and configured  on GitHub , now need to specify when we want to use **personal** account instead of **work**. For this we need to amend the git config file.  This can be edited either using command line or by using any text editor.


   -  **Command line :** Run the below command in command line
              
    > 
       git config core.sshCommand=ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa_personal

   -  **Using text editor**  : Add **sshCommand = ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_ra_personal** to **core** list.
      
         
   ![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1602605789420/h0g3-nar2.png)


# **Update email and name in Git Config file **

You will also need to update the email and name inside Git Config file. This can be done by editing the Git Config file.

![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1602659103133/8hukRouoH.png)

Alternatively , command lines can be used to add / update email and name 


  > 
    git config user.name "test"
    git config user.email git@git.com

Now, you are all set to commit and push the changes to your remote repository 

  > 
    git init
    git add .
    git commit -m "First commit"
    git remote add origin git@github.com:your_username/test.git
    git push origin master


Hope it helps you !