Error saving credentials: error storing credentials - err: exit status 1
docker login authenticated, but the credential helper (keychain, pass, wincred) couldn’t store the password.
Exact message you may see
Error saving credentialserror storing credentialsThe user name or passphrase you entered is not correct
Seen on:
Docker
Meaning
Common on headless Linux (pass/secretservice not set up), locked macOS keychains over SSH, and WSL.
Common causes
- Credential helper not initialised (pass without a GPG key)
- Keychain locked or unavailable (SSH session)
- Helper mismatch from another Docker install
⚡ Quick fix
- Remove credsStore so credentials are stored in config.json (base64, less secure)
- Initialise the helper (pass init <gpg-id>)
- Unlock the keychain
Detailed fix by platform
Shell
- bash
security unlock-keychain ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain-db # macOS over SSH pass init "<gpg-key-id>" # Linux pass helper
How to diagnose
- Helper — credsStore value
- State — Is the keychain/pass store usable?
🔧 Still not fixed?
Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:
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Other ways to find it
Where this error sits
Origin: Platform & cloud. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):
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Last updated 15 Oct 2026