Github shows incorrect committer name

[skis]

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Hey Friends! Perhaps a trivial issue but, strange one to me... Git on my local is configured to have my ID, name and email both at the system and project level. In the commit logs I can see my name and email. However, when I push it upstream i.e. to github I see someone elses name. Appreciate any insights into what I could be missing.

Thank You

[robotjsorg]

What do you mean Git is configured with at the project level with ID, name and email? ssh keys are generally systemwide configurations.

Double check which ssh key is being used to authenticate online git commands and remove any duplicates.

Check Github profile's ssh keys

On Github.com, navigate to Settings > SSH and GPG keys. Take note of the ssh key names and public key fingerprints. Keep this page open and refer to it

Check the computer's Github ssh key

1. Using the workstation in question, open a terminal application such as Terminal on Mac or Linux, or Git Bash on Windows
2. List existing ssh keys: ls -al ~/.ssh
3. Look for a matching date, or SHA 256 key: ssh-keygen -lf ~/.ssh/my_key.pub
4. If there is not a matching key on Github, then a new one needs to be uploaded

[skis]

I am referring to the user.name and --author flags. I have user.name configured to use my name, and I see it correctly via the command line when I do a git log however, on github, it shows as the author is someone else. I am not sure how or where is that other name coming up from.

Checked and doublechecked everything git config --global, git config --system, git config --local and couldn't find it.

[lemorage]

It is possible that the email address in your commits is not associated with your GitHub account.

• Run the following command to see the email address used in your commit:

  git log --pretty=%ae

• Go to your GitHub account, and under Settings > Emails, make sure that the email address used in your commits is listed there. If not, you can add it.

[mislam]

Hi @skis,

It looks like you've correctly configured your Git settings locally, but when pushing to GitHub, the commits show someone else's name. This issue often arises from one of the following causes:

1. Check Global vs Local Configuration

Even though you have set your name and email at the system and project level, there may be a conflict between your global and local Git configurations. Git will prioritize the local repository configuration over the global one. To ensure your name and email are correctly set for the repository:

Check the global configuration:

git config --global user.name
git config --global user.email

Check the local repository configuration:

git config --get user.name
git config --get user.email

Make sure both match your GitHub username/email. If the local config is incorrect, you can update it with:

git config user.name "Your Name"
git config user.email "[email protected]"

2. Check GitHub Account Email

Ensure the email you're using in Git is associated with your GitHub account. If your commits are associated with an email not linked to your GitHub account, GitHub will display the email, but the commit will appear as "unknown" or show someone else’s details. To fix this:

• Go to your GitHub settings → Emails.
• Make sure the email you’re using locally is added to your GitHub account.

3. Check for Signed Commits

If you're using GPG signing for commits, the signed commits may have the author information from your GPG key. Ensure the GPG key is associated with your GitHub account. You can check if your commits are signed by:

git log --show-signature

If the commits are signed, make sure your GPG key is correctly configured and associated with your GitHub account.

4. Cached Credentials

Sometimes, cached credentials or an old email address used for authentication can lead to this issue. Clear your credentials cache to make sure your GitHub credentials are updated:

git credential-cache exit

Then, push again and GitHub should ask for your credentials.

5. Check Commit Author vs Committer

Git allows you to have different names and emails for the commit author and the committer. If the committer information is incorrect, it could show someone else’s name. To check and update the commit information, you can amend the commit:

git commit --amend --author="Your Name <[email protected]>"

This will update the commit's author information.

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the issue and ensure that your correct name and email show up on GitHub.