Migrating to Microsoft Git Credential Manager for Windows — Best Practices

Migrating to Microsoft Git Credential Manager for Windows — Best Practices—

Migrating to Microsoft Git Credential Manager for Windows (GCM for Windows) can simplify authentication workflows, enhance security, and reduce friction when working with remote Git repositories. This guide covers planning, prerequisites, installation, migration steps, configuration, troubleshooting, and best practices to make your migration smooth and secure.

Why migrate to GCM for Windows?

• Centralized credential handling. GCM securely stores and retrieves credentials for multiple Git hosts (GitHub, Azure DevOps, Bitbucket, etc.), reducing repeated prompts.
• Modern authentication support. GCM supports OAuth and personal access tokens (PATs), and integrates with modern MFA flows.
• Cross-platform consistency. While this guide focuses on Windows, GCM’s designs align with Git Credential Manager Core used across platforms, making workflows more predictable if your team uses mixed OSes.
• Improved security. GCM uses the Windows Credential Manager and secure OAuth flows rather than storing plaintext credentials in Git configuration.

Prerequisites and planning

Before migrating, evaluate your environment and plan:

• Inventory Git clients, versions, and OS versions in your organization.
• Identify remote hosts in use (GitHub, Azure DevOps, Bitbucket, GitLab, others).
• Check for automation workflows (CI/CD) that depend on stored credentials — these may need PATs or service principals rather than interactive flows.
• Decide on rollout strategy: phased (pilot group -> broader rollout) or big-bang.
• Backup existing credential helpers and documented credentials where necessary.

Installing GCM for Windows

1. Confirm Git version:
   • Run git --version. GCM works best with modern Git releases (2.28+ recommended).
2. Download GCM for Windows:
   • Obtain the latest GCM for Windows installer (or use Git for Windows bundled helper if included). For enterprise environments, host the installer on an internal distribution point.
3. Run installer with administrative privileges where required.
4. Verify installation:
   • Run git-credential-manager --version or git credential-manager version depending on installer.
5. Configure Git to use GCM:
   • Run git config --global credential.helper manager (or manager-core if using GCM Core). This replaces previous helpers like wincred or store.

Migration steps

1. Clear conflicting helpers:
   • Check git config --list --show-origin for older helpers (wincred, store, cache) and remove or override them.
   • Example: git config --global --unset credential.helper then set GCM.
2. Migrate stored credentials:
   • Export any non-securely stored credentials (e.g., from .git-credentials) and replace with tokens or allow GCM to re-prompt and store securely.
   • Remove plaintext credentials from disk promptly.
3. Update automation and service accounts:
   • Replace interactive credentials in CI with PATs or machine accounts. Store these securely in CI secret stores.
4. Educate users:
   • Inform developers about new sign-in flows (OAuth browser pop-ups, PAT usage), MFA prompts, and how to revoke old tokens.
5. Pilot test:
   • Select a small group to test common workflows: clone, push, fetch, credential expiration and renewal, multi-account scenarios.

Configuration recommendations

• Use manager-core if you need cross-platform parity; otherwise manager (Windows) is fine.
• Prefer OAuth flows for human users; use PATs for automation.
• Enable multi-account support by configuring account prompts and credential scopes per host.
• Configure credential.https://dev.azure.com.username (or equivalent) for specific host overrides when necessary.
• For enterprises, consider centralized policies for token lifetimes and conditional access.

Handling common scenarios

• Multiple accounts for same host:
  • GCM supports account selection during authentication. Use host-specific URL formats (e.g., corporate vs. personal) or credential overrides to disambiguate.
• Revoked/expired tokens:
  • GCM will prompt for reauthentication. Use PAT rotation policies for automation.
• Legacy helpers interfering:
  • Fully remove old helpers from system and repo configs. Search for .git-credentials and purge plaintext entries.
• SSO and conditional access:
  • Ensure your identity provider allows OAuth flows and configure conditional access rules that won’t block GCM.

Troubleshooting

• Authentication failures:
  • Re-run auth, check for MFA/policy blocks, inspect Windows Event Viewer for errors.
• Credential not being used:
  • Verify git config credential.helper and check for repo-level overrides.
• Installer issues:
  • Use logging from the installer and ensure admin rights for system-wide installs.
• Browser pop-up not appearing:
  • Ensure default browser is correctly set; GCM may open a browser for OAuth flows.

Security considerations

• Remove plaintext credentials immediately.
• Use PATs with minimal scopes for automation and rotate them regularly.
• Leverage enterprise identity features (SSO, conditional access, device compliance) to secure token issuance.
• Audit access and revoke tokens when employees change roles or leave.

Rollout checklist

• [ ] Inventory Git clients and hosts.
• [ ] Backup and remove plaintext credentials.
• [ ] Install GCM on test machines.
• [ ] Pilot with a small group.
• [ ] Update CI/CD secrets to use PATs.
• [ ] Train developers on new flows.
• [ ] Gradual enterprise rollout and monitoring.

Conclusion

Migrating to Microsoft Git Credential Manager for Windows reduces friction and strengthens security when interacting with remote repositories. With careful planning, testing, and attention to automation needs, you can transition smoothly and provide a better authentication experience for developers.