Linux Mint Can Log Into Google But Not GitHub? How to Fix It

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Imagine this: you’re happily using Linux Mint, browsing the web, checking emails, logging into your Google account without a hitch. But when you try to log into GitHub—boom! Nothing happens. Frustrating, right?

TLDR

If Linux Mint lets you log into Google but not GitHub, don’t panic. The issue is often related to your browser’s settings, privacy extensions, or SSL certificates. You may just need to update your system, tweak a few browser options, or clear cookies. Follow the simple steps below to fix it!

Understanding the Problem

This weird issue can confuse even seasoned Linux users. You can log into Google just fine. Gmail works. YouTube works. Chrome syncs beautifully. But GitHub? Nope!

So what’s going on? Let’s break it down.

  • GitHub uses a different set of login and security rules compared to Google
  • SSL certificates or outdated system libraries can interfere with secure connections
  • Your browser or DNS settings might block GitHub logins

Step 1: Try a Different Browser

This might sound silly, but it works more often than you’d think.

If you’re using Firefox and can’t log into GitHub, try Chrome or Brave. Or vice versa. Sometimes a browser update breaks something for one site but leaves others unaffected.

If you still can’t get into GitHub, try opening the site in incognito or private mode. Still no dice? Then let’s dig deeper.

Step 2: Clear Your Cookies and Cache

Cookies can cause login issues when they get stale or corrupted.

  1. Open your browser’s settings
  2. Navigate to Privacy & Security
  3. Clear all cookies and cache for GitHub.com
  4. Restart your browser and try logging in again

Pro tip: Don’t delete cookies for all sites unless you want to re-login everywhere.

Step 3: Check Your System Date and Time

This sounds weird, but SSL certificates rely on your system clock being accurate. If your date or time is wrong, GitHub might think your connection is suspicious.

  1. Go to the system settings in Linux Mint
  2. Look for Date & Time
  3. Enable automatic time sync if it’s not already turned on

Once fixed, retry GitHub. If it was the date/time combo, you’re golden!

Step 4: Update Your System and Certificates

When was the last time you updated Linux Mint? Outdated libraries like ca-certificates can block GitHub access.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo update-ca-certificates

Reboot your system. Try logging into GitHub again.

If this worked—hooray! If not, keep reading.

Step 5: Test Network and DNS Issues

GitHub’s login system relies on secure connections. If your DNS is flaky, it might block GitHub’s auth servers.

  1. Try using Google’s public DNS:
    • Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
    • Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
  2. You can set this in your network settings in Linux Mint
  3. Or modify /etc/resolv.conf directly (advanced users only)

Step 6: Test with VPN or Without It

Using a VPN? Some servers or IP ranges may be blocked by GitHub for security reasons.

  • Turn off your VPN and try accessing GitHub
  • Or try using a VPN if you’re not already—just to check if your regular IP is blocked

Sometimes, your normal IP may have been flagged due to suspicious activity in your subnet (not your fault!).

Step 7: Disable Browser Extensions Temporarily

Some privacy-focused browser extensions (looking at you, uBlock, NoScript, Privacy Badger) can block GitHub’s login scripts.

  1. Disable all browser extensions
  2. Reload GitHub
  3. If it works—great! Now re-enable them one by one to find the culprit

Step 8: Use Curl or Git to Check Connection

If GitHub won’t load in your browser, but you want to check if your system can still talk to it, try this:

curl -I https://github.com

You should get a 200 OK response or a redirect. If you see SSL errors, your certificates or network are likely the problem.

You can also try this with Git:

git ls-remote https://github.com/username/reponame.git

If these fail with SSL or HTTPS errors, your issue isn’t the browser—it’s deeper.

Step 9: Reinstall or Reset Your Browser Profile

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

  • Create a new browser profile (or user)
  • This ensures you’re starting fresh without leftover corrupt settings
  • Try logging into GitHub using the new profile

It takes a few minutes but can save hours of frustration.

Step 10: Contact Support—Yes, Seriously!

If you’ve tried everything and GitHub still refuses to let you in, contact their support team. They’re friendly!

Explain that only GitHub doesn’t work on your computer. It helps to include:

  • Your browser and version
  • Any error messages you get
  • Your IP address (they might check if it was blocked)

You might discover something totally unexpected, like GitHub mistook your IP range for a bot farm. Oops.

A Quick Note About Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

GitHub enforces 2FA for some users. If you’re using an app like Authy or Google Authenticator, make sure it’s synced and working.

Sometimes, users fail to log in because of incorrect 2FA codes, and it looks like the website is broken when it’s really just a code mismatch.

Bonus Tip: Try Logging in Using SSH

If web login fails, but you need to access your repositories, set up SSH authentication with GitHub instead:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Copy this public key to your GitHub Settings under SSH and GPG keys.

You can now push, pull, and clone without logging into the site.

In Conclusion

If Linux Mint logs into Google but not GitHub, it means you’re dealing with a security or configuration hiccup. Thankfully, there’s a fix—and now you’ve got 10+ ways to solve it!

  • Try another browser
  • Clear cookies and update your system
  • Change DNS and test your network
  • Use SSH as a backup method

With a bit of patient tinkering, you’ll have GitHub working again in no time!