SourceTree "Authentication via SSH keys failed"

[Steven Calderwood]

I am using the latest SourceTree for Mac (v 2.5.3 [116]). I use SSH keys to authenticate with GitHub and Bitbucket. Every time after I restart my workstation, SourceTree no longer sees my repos from either service as valid. I get the following error:

"This is not a valid source path / URL."

If I regenerate my SSH keys (and reload them to my accounts at Github and Bitbucket), then I can successfully work with my remotes again.

This happens to me on three separate Mac workstations (two early-Macboo-2015s and one Macbook-2016; one of which runs El Capitan and the other two run Sierra).

How can I avoid this without switching to HTTPS?

[Ana Retamal · Accepted solution]

Hi Steven, do you have any keys loaded in your agent when you reboot your computer? You can check that using the command 

ssh-add -l

You can also try using the command line and see if you get the same error. Regarding MacOS Sierra, there seems to be an issue with it not rememebering SSH keys after rebooting that might be affecting you, you can find it at MacOs Sierra doesn't remember SSH keys between reboots .

Let us know if that's your case!

Ana

[Steven Calderwood]

Thanks. I can't believe I overlooked that. I appreciate it!

[Ana Retamal]

No problem, Steven! Glad I could help :)

Cheers,

Ana

[farbod Aprin]

thanks It helps me too :D

[Rob van Eck]

wow thanks.. It was a Mac OS Sierra issue! No ssh keys in agent after reboot. 

I found it weird that i worked for 5 days.. and suddenly it stopped. 

ssh-add -A

[radionicholls]

Same. I need to reload this after EVERY minor system update (macOS 10.13)

[testrijder]

What would also work is to enter this in your ssh config file: ~/.ssh/config

Host bitbucket.org
    HostName bitbucket.org
    User git
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/yourSSHPrivateKey

 And add subsequent sections for other endpoints.

When you connect using SourceTree if will ask for the passphrase if it exists on your key and store it in the MacOS keychain if you want.

[Andrey Streltsov]

Thanks, this worked for me(finally!)