first you have to create an SSH key ... the details are as follows: in Terminal do $ ls ~/.ssh: if you have a file named id_rsa.pub or id_dsa.pub you already have a key otherwise: ssh-keygen -t rsa -C "Comment for key" name: press Enter passphrase (i.e. password) then go to Gitlab site ... personal icon top right --> Edit profile --> in account page... "SSH Keys" in left column on the local machine, do this : $ cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub and copy the entire contents in the box under Add an SSH key / Key, paste the contents. give a simple explanatory title in "Title". Set "Expiration date" to 31/12/2199 click "Add key" on the local machine do this, probably in the directory where your .git file or directory is located: $ git remote set-url origin ssh://git@gitlab.com/[my-gitlab-account-name]/[my-project-name]