How to Make Your GitHub Account Private?

GitHub is a popular platform for hosting and sharing code, allowing developers to collaborate on projects. While most GitHub profiles are public by default, you may want to keep your account or repositories private for confidentiality or security reasons.

This blog will guide you through making your GitHub account more private and safeguarding your projects.

Understanding Privacy on GitHub

GitHub accounts themselves cannot be entirely private. However, you can control what is visible to others by:

1. Making individual repositories private.
2. Hiding activity and contributions.
3. Configuring profile visibility settings.
4. Managing organization-level privacy settings (if applicable).

Steps to Make Your GitHub Profile More Private

1. Make Repositories Private

Repositories are the core of any GitHub account. By making them private, you ensure that only authorized collaborators can view or access your code.

1. Go to your GitHub profile and click on the repository you want to make private.
2. Click on Settings in the repository’s navigation bar.
3. Scroll down to the Danger Zone section.
4. Click Change repository visibility and select Private.
5. Confirm your action by typing the repository name and clicking I understand, make this repository private.

Note: Private repositories are only available for GitHub Free or Pro accounts.

2. Hide Activity on Your Profile

Your profile shows contribution graphs, starred repositories, and other activities by default. To hide this:

1. Go to your GitHub profile and click on your avatar in the top-right corner.
2. Select Settings > Profile.
3. Scroll to the Contribution settings section.
4. Uncheck Include private contributions on my profile or adjust visibility as needed.

3. Manage Profile Visibility

You can limit the information displayed on your public GitHub profile.

1. Navigate to Settings > Public Profile.
2. Edit the visibility of fields like your bio, email address, location, and social links.
3. Toggle visibility settings to ensure only relevant information is shown.

4. Restrict Organization Privacy

If you’re part of a GitHub organization, you can limit your visibility within the organization:

1. Go to your organization’s page.
2. Navigate to Settings > Members or Teams (based on your role).
3. Adjust visibility to ensure your membership and contributions are hidden if required.

Additional Tips for Enhanced Privacy

• Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Secure your GitHub account by enabling 2FA under Settings > Account Security.
• Review Third-Party App Access: Regularly check and revoke unnecessary app permissions under Settings > Applications.
• Use SSH Keys for Authentication: Configure SSH keys for secure repository access instead of HTTPS passwords.
• Control Collaborator Access: Review who has access to your private repositories and adjust permissions as needed.

FAQs

Can I make my entire GitHub profile private?

No, you cannot completely hide your GitHub profile. However, you can control what information and repositories are visible to others.

Is making repositories private free on GitHub?

Yes, GitHub Free accounts include unlimited private repositories with limited collaboration features.

How can I check my account’s public visibility?

Log out of GitHub or use an incognito browser to view your profile as a public user.

Conclusion

Making your GitHub account private is all about controlling the visibility of your repositories, activities, and profile details.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can protect your projects and maintain a secure presence on GitHub. Whether you’re an individual developer or part of a team, taking proactive measures to safeguard your account is essential.