One minute I was pushing code to a private Git repository. The next, every command spat out Permission denied and fatal: Authentication failed. I had rotated AWS credentials the day before, and now Git had cached the wrong keys. The fix wasn’t obvious until I dug deep into how AWS access tokens and Git credentials interact.
When Git stores AWS-related credentials, it doesn’t always refresh them after you update AWS keys or profiles. That means a git pull, git push, or any AWS CodeCommit operation can keep failing until you reset your local credential store.
Here’s the process to reset AWS access for Git and get back to a clean, working state fast.
1. Verify Your AWS CLI Configuration
Run:
aws sts get-caller-identity
If this fails, your AWS access keys aren’t set correctly. Check your ~/.aws/credentials and ~/.aws/config files. Confirm the active profile is the one you expect. Rotate keys if needed, and run aws configure to set them correctly.
2. Clear Cached Git Credentials
Git might be holding onto old credentials, especially if you use the credential helper. Reset them:
git credential-cache exit
git credential reject
If you use the OS credential manager, clear or remove stored AWS CodeCommit entries.
3. Update the AWS Credential Helper for CodeCommit
CodeCommit uses the AWS CLI’s credential helper to sign requests. Refresh it with:
git config --global --unset credential.helper
git config --global credential.helper '!aws codecommit credential-helper $@'
git config --global credential.UseHttpPath true
4. Test the Connection
Clone a fresh repo or run:
git ls-remote https://git-codecommit.<region>.amazonaws.com/v1/repos/<repo_name>
If you see remote refs without errors, your AWS and Git are synced again.
5. Automate Future Rotations
Avoid downtime by scripting key rotations and credential cache resets. This is crucial if you’re rotating IAM users or temporary session tokens. Even small teams benefit from automation here.
The most common root cause: AWS access keys change, but Git keeps using expired credentials. The fix is about clearing Git’s cache and aligning with the AWS CLI’s active profile.
With the right setup, you can swap AWS keys without touching Git configs every time.
If you want to see a smooth, automated version of this entire flow, there’s a faster way. Try it live on hoop.dev and have your AWS + Git integration running in minutes. You’ll never have to hunt down ghost credentials again.