GitHub Actions / GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions Docker Push Permission Denied — GHCR Authentication Failure (2026)

Q: What should I check first?

Start with the exact ERROR: denied: permission_denied requesting ghcr.io/your-org/your-image OR unauthorized: authentication required text and the smallest action that reproduces it.

Fix Docker image push to GitHub Container Registry failing with permission denied or unauthorized errors in CI/CD pipelines Includes evidence for GitHub Actions troubleshooting demand.

Category: GitHub Actions
Error signature: ERROR: denied: permission_denied requesting ghcr.io/your-org/your-image OR unauthorized: authentication required
Quick fix: Verify the account session, API key, provider settings, and environment where the failing tool is running.
Updated: May 19, 2026

What this error means

ERROR: denied: permission_denied requesting ghcr.io/your-org/your-image OR unauthorized: authentication required is a GitHub Actions failure pattern reported for developers trying to fix docker image push to github container registry failing with permission denied or unauthorized errors in ci/cd pipelines. Based on the imported evidence, treat this as a tool-specific troubleshooting page rather than a generic API error.

Why this happens

Comprehensive 2026 article covering all root causes: missing packages: write scope, wrong GITHUB_TOKEN scope for private repos, Docker Hub secret misconfiguration, AWS ECR no basic auth credentials, and org-level package visibility issues. Covers GHCR, Docker Hub, and ECR registries. Distinct from covered ‘npm ci lockfile error’ and ‘permission denied publickey’.

Common causes

Comprehensive 2026 article covering all root causes: missing packages: write scope, wrong GITHUB_TOKEN scope for private repos, Docker Hub secret misconfiguration, AWS ECR no basic auth credentials, and org-level package visibility issues. Covers GHCR, Docker Hub, and ECR registries. Distinct from covered ‘npm ci lockfile error’ and ‘permission denied publickey’.

Quick fixes

Confirm the exact error signature matches ERROR: denied: permission_denied requesting ghcr.io/your-org/your-image OR unauthorized: authentication required.
Check the GitHub Actions account, local tool state, and provider configuration involved in the failing workflow.
Verify the account session, API key, provider settings, and environment where the failing tool is running.

Platform/tool-specific checks

Verify the command, editor, extension, or API client that produced the error.
Compare local settings with CI, deployment, or editor-level settings when the error appears in only one environment.
Avoid deleting credentials, local model data, or project settings until the failing scope is clear.

Step-by-step troubleshooting

Capture the exact error message and the command, editor action, or request that triggered it.
Check whether the failure is account/auth, quota/rate, model/provider, local runtime, or deployment configuration.
Review the source evidence below and compare it with your environment.
Apply one change at a time and rerun the smallest failing action.
Keep the working fix documented for the team or deployment environment.

How to prevent it

Keep provider/tool configuration documented.
Record non-secret diagnostics such as tool version, provider name, model name, and command path.
Add a lightweight check before CI or production workflows depend on the tool.

Sources checked

Evidence note: Comprehensive 2026 article covering all root causes: missing packages: write scope, wrong GITHUB_TOKEN scope for private repos, Docker Hub secret misconfiguration, AWS ECR no basic auth credentials, and org-level package visibility issues. Covers GHCR, Docker Hub, and ECR registries. Distinct from covered ‘npm ci lockfile error’ and ‘permission denied publickey’.

GitHub Actions

FAQ

What should I check first?

Start with the exact ERROR: denied: permission_denied requesting ghcr.io/your-org/your-image OR unauthorized: authentication required text and the smallest action that reproduces it.

Can I ignore this error?

No. Treat it as a failed GitHub Actions workflow until the root cause is understood.

Is this guaranteed to have one fix?

No. The imported evidence supports the troubleshooting path above, but tool behavior can vary by account, plan, version, provider, and local configuration.

How do I know the fix worked?

Rerun the same command, editor action, or request. The fix is working when that action completes without ERROR: denied: permission_denied requesting ghcr.io/your-org/your-image OR unauthorized: authentication required.