GitFlip
Manage and switch between multiple GitHub accounts in VS Code — choose HTTPS, SSH, or git config only. No SSH setup required.
Features
- Auth Method Selector — Choose how each profile authenticates: HTTPS (PAT), SSH key, or just git config
- HTTPS Mode — Use a Personal Access Token with git credential helpers. No SSH setup needed — perfect for beginners
- SSH Mode — Full SSH key management with
~/.ssh/config host aliases and automatic remote URL switching
- Git Config Only — Just switch
user.name and user.email without any auth configuration
- Profile Management — Create profiles for each GitHub account with name, email, auth method, and avatar
- One-Click Switching — Switch between profiles from the status bar, command palette, or sidebar
- Inline CRUD Actions — Edit, duplicate, and delete profiles directly from the sidebar
- Profile Avatars — Upload an image or paste a GitHub avatar URL for each profile
- Token Storage — Securely stores GitHub PATs using VS Code's encrypted secret storage
- Webview Sidebar — Rich profile cards with avatars, auth badges (SSH/HTTPS), active indicator, and inline actions
- Status Bar — Shows the active profile at a glance; click to switch
Getting Started
- Install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace
- Open the command palette (
Cmd+Shift+P) and run GitFlip: Add Profile
- Fill in your GitHub account details
- Choose an authentication method:
- Git Config Only — Just set user.name and email
- HTTPS (Token) — Enter a GitHub PAT for push/pull authentication
- SSH Key — Select an SSH key and host alias
- Switch profiles from the status bar or the GitFlip sidebar
Authentication Methods
HTTPS (Personal Access Token)
The easiest way to get started. GitFlip stores your PAT securely and configures git's credential helper automatically when you switch profiles.
- Create a GitHub Personal Access Token
- Add a profile in GitFlip and select HTTPS (Personal Access Token)
- Paste your token — it's encrypted using your OS keychain
- When you switch to this profile, GitFlip sets your git config and configures the credential helper so push/pull works immediately
SSH Key
For advanced users who prefer SSH authentication. GitFlip manages ~/.ssh/config entries and updates remote URLs automatically.
- Add a profile and select SSH Key
- Browse for your SSH private key and set a host alias
- GitFlip adds the entry to
~/.ssh/config and rewrites remote URLs when you switch
Git Config Only
Just switches user.name and user.email — no authentication setup. Useful when you only need to change the commit author identity.
Commands
| Command |
Description |
GitFlip: Add Profile |
Create a new GitHub account profile |
GitFlip: Switch Profile |
Switch to a different profile |
GitFlip: Edit Profile |
Edit an existing profile |
GitFlip: Remove Profile |
Delete a profile |
GitFlip: Duplicate Profile |
Duplicate an existing profile |
GitFlip: Show Current Profile |
Display the active profile details |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
gitflip.defaultScope |
local |
Default git config scope (local or global) |
gitflip.autoSwitchRemote |
true |
Auto-update remote URL format (SSH host alias or HTTPS) when switching profiles |
The GitFlip sidebar displays all your profiles as rich cards with:
- Profile avatar — custom image or default icon
- Active badge — green border and "Active" label for the current profile
- Auth badges — SSH or HTTPS indicator
- Inline actions — Switch, Edit, Duplicate, and Delete buttons on every card
How It Works
Git Config
When you switch profiles, GitFlip runs git config user.name and git config user.email with the selected profile's values. You choose whether to apply this to the current repository (local) or globally.
HTTPS Credentials
For HTTPS profiles, GitFlip uses git credential approve to feed your PAT into the system's credential helper (macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager, or git-credential-store). When switching away, old credentials are cleared with git credential reject. If no credential helper is configured, GitFlip sets credential.helper store as a fallback.
SSH Keys
For SSH profiles with a key and host alias, GitFlip adds an entry to ~/.ssh/config:
Host github-work
HostName github.com
User git
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_work
IdentitiesOnly yes
When switching with autoSwitchRemote enabled, the repository's remote URL is updated to match the auth method (e.g., git@github-work:user/repo.git for SSH, https://github.com/user/repo.git for HTTPS).
Token Storage
Personal Access Tokens are stored using VS Code's SecretStorage API, which encrypts them using the OS keychain.
Profile Avatars
Avatars can be set via file upload (PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG, WebP) or by pasting a URL (e.g., your GitHub avatar URL). Uploaded images are stored as data URIs alongside the profile.
Author
Hamad Javed — GitHub
License
MIT
