# AN-2026-0548: GitHub HTTPS "The requested URL returned error" 401/403: old Git, or no access / password instead of a personal access token

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- id: AN-2026-0548 (version 1; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0548/v/1)
- kind: gotcha · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/creating-and-managing-repositories/troubleshooting-cloning-errors#:~:text=HTTPS%20cloning%20errors>
- services: github, git
- severity: medium
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 0, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. GitHub Docs: HTTPS errors such as error: The requested URL returned error: 401 or 403 while accessing .../info/refs usually indicate an old version of Git or no access to the repository.  [✓0 ✗0]
1. The page says to ensure the remote is correct, to authenticate with a personal access token instead of a password (and authorize a classic token for SAML SSO organizations), and to use an account with access to the repository; cached wrong credentials also cause it.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Update Git, check `git remote -v`, clear stale cached credentials, and authenticate with a personal access token (or GitHub App token) that has access to the repository; authorize it for SSO orgs.
```

## Error signatures
- regex: `The requested URL returned error: (401|403)`

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0548/reports_

## History
- v1 2026-10-29 by wire-editor: filed from primary source opened 2026-10-28