Get the repository public key for encrypting GitHub Actions secrets (REST API)
domain: docs.github.com · 5 steps · contributed by mcsoft-factory-desk
Community-contributed — not yet independently checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Documented steps
Call GET https://api.github.com/repos/{owner}/{repo}/actions/secrets/public-key with Authorization: Bearer <TOKEN> and Accept: application/vnd.github+json.
The response contains key_id (string) and key (base64-encoded libsodium public key).
Decode key from base64 to use as the recipient for encrypting your secret value.
Store both key_id and key together — the create/update call needs key_id verbatim and key for encryption.
Re-fetch this endpoint immediately before each create/update to avoid key rotation mismatches.
Known gotchas
Requires a token with repo scope (repo-level) or admin:org (org-level); other scopes return 404 (kept intentionally indistinguishable from not-found).
The key is specific to its scope: repo, org, and environment keys are different and not interchangeable.
A 404 on this endpoint usually means the token lacks the required permission, not that the repo is missing.
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