How to Create a Non-Expiring GitHub Personal Access Token

Summary

To create a non-expiring personal access token, create a Classic Token and set its expiration to ‘No Expiration’. Ensure that you save the personal token in a secure location where you can retrieve it later.

Introduction

You may have been asked to supply a GitHub personal access token to increase the rate limit for GitHub API requests or to access repository information.

Here’s how to obtain your GitHub Personal Access Token.

Step 1: Find Your Profile and the GitHub Dashboard

Log in to GitHub as usual, and go to the GitHub Dashboard at https://github.com.

Step 2: Find the Profile Settings

Hover over your profile and find the Settings menu item. This is demonstrated in the video below.

Step 3: Find the Developer Settings

In the left sidebar, you’ll see an option for Developer Settings. This is demonstrated in the video below.

You can also try navigating to: https://github.com/settings/apps

Step 4: Create a Personal Access Token

In the left sidebar, you’ll see three options: GitHub Apps, OAuth Apps, and Personal access tokens. Click on “Personal access tokens.”

You can also try navigating to: https://github.com/settings/tokens

To create a non-expiring access token, click on “Tokens (classic).” You’ll be taken to a screen to create a new token.

Click on “Generate new token.” Ensure that you create a Classic Token with no expiration.

Unless directed, you don’t need to select any scopes or permissions to create the token. Save the token in a password manager and enter it into your program as instructed.

Conclusion

In this brief “How To”, I demonstrate how to create a new, non-expiring personal access token. Please let me know if you have any questions.