Authentication Failed Cloning Repo

If you get an “Authentication Failed” error when trying to clone the Millennium Dawn repository, follow the steps below.

Option 1: Sign In via GitHub Desktop

The simplest fix is to sign into GitHub through the GitHub Desktop application:

1. Open GitHub Desktop.
2. Go to File > Options (Windows) or GitHub Desktop > Settings (macOS).
3. Click the Accounts tab.
4. Click Sign In next to GitHub.com and follow the browser-based authentication flow.
5. Once signed in, try cloning the repository again.

Option 2: Create a Personal Access Token (PAT)

If GitHub Desktop sign-in does not resolve the issue, you can authenticate using a Personal Access Token:

1. Go to github.com (opens in new tab) and sign in.
2. Click your profile picture in the top right, then go to Settings.
3. Scroll down in the left sidebar and click Developer settings.
4. Click Personal access tokens > Tokens (classic).
5. Click Generate new token > Generate new token (classic).
6. Give the token a descriptive name (e.g., “Millennium Dawn Dev”).
7. Set an expiration date (or select “No expiration” if you prefer, though an expiry is recommended for security).
8. Under Select scopes, check the repo checkbox (this grants full access to repositories).
9. Click Generate token.
10. Copy the token immediately — you will not be able to see it again after leaving the page.

Do not share your token with anyone. A PAT functions as a password and could compromise your account.

When prompted for a password during cloning, paste your PAT instead of your GitHub password.

Option 3: Use SSH Authentication

As an alternative to HTTPS, you can set up SSH keys:

1. Follow GitHub’s guide to generate a new SSH key (opens in new tab).
2. Add the SSH key to your GitHub account (opens in new tab).
3. When cloning, use the SSH URL instead of HTTPS from the repository’s Code dropdown.

Still Having Issues?

If none of the above works, ask for help in the Discord development channel.