The latest articles on DEV Community by Neal Onyango (@neal_onyango_ebe0034528d6). https://dev.to/neal_onyango_ebe0034528d6 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4071741%2F463ab37d-2451-417e-bf02-0ddb8f4dcd4a.png https://dev.to/neal_onyango_ebe0034528d6 en Neal Onyango Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:55:00 +0000 https://dev.to/neal_onyango_ebe0034528d6/pushing-folders-to-github-using-ssh-9n0 https://dev.to/neal_onyango_ebe0034528d6/pushing-folders-to-github-using-ssh-9n0 <h2> Introduction </h2> <p>Pushing is the process of uploading a folder saved on a local repository to an online repository which can be accessed remotely. The online repository may be public or private. This article is an explanation of the step by step process of how to push projects from your local folder to GitHub on windows operating system. We shall use GitBash to write command line language and SSH key to link our GitHub to GitBash. </p> <h2> Prerequisites </h2> <ul> <li>Log in to your GitHub account </li> <li>Download GitBash</li> <li>Correctly configure GitBash by running the command <strong>git config —-global —-list</strong> </li> </ul> <h2> Setup your SSH key. </h2> <ol> <li>Open GitBash and generate a new SSH key, replacing the email with the one linked to your GitHub account using the command <strong>ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C “email”</strong> </li> <li>confirm the key was created using <strong>ls -al ~/.ssh</strong> </li> <li>To see the SSH key using <strong>cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub and then copy it</strong> </li> <li>On GitHub, go to Settings then SSH where you will select new SSH key. Give it a title and paste your public key into the key field</li> <li>Test the connection on GitBash using <strong>ssh -T <code>git@github.com</code></strong> </li> </ol> <h2> Push Process </h2> <ol> <li>Confirm your current working directory by running the command <strong>pwd</strong> </li> <li>Use the command <strong>ls -la</strong> to see all files hidden and non-hidden files.</li> <li>If you are not in the directory of the folder you are looking for, use the command <strong>cd</strong> to move until the correct directory.</li> <li>Initialize the directory a GIT repository so GIT may begin managing the project using the command <strong>git init</strong> </li> <li>Stage your file so Git starts tracking using the command <strong>git add .</strong> </li> <li>Commit the staged files with a message describing the changes using <strong>git commit -m “<em>description</em>”</strong> </li> <li>Create an empty GitHub repository, name the repository, leave README unchecked and then choose SSH as your connection option.</li> <li>Copy the SSH repository address and then on GIT bash, type the command <strong>git remote add origin <em>pasted SSH repository address</em></strong> </li> <li>Confirm the remote is correct using the command <strong>git remote -v</strong> </li> <li>You can now push the project using <strong>git push -u origin main</strong> </li> <li>Refresh the repository page on GitHub to see your pushed folder</li> </ol> <h2> Conclusion </h2> <p>This is the entire workflow of pushing a local project to GitHub using SSH on Windows. This is the cycle which you will repeat for every change you make.</p> beginners git github tutorial