GitLab Self-Managed Integration with GitKraken Desktop

Last updated: February 2026

GitKraken allows you to connect to GitLab Self-Managed (CE or EE), enabling repository discovery, pull request creation, and SSH key management within your self-hosted GitLab environment.

Quick Start

Connect GitKraken Desktop to a GitLab Self-Managed server to clone repositories, manage remotes, and create pull requests.

1. Go to Preferences > Integrations in GitKraken Desktop.
2. Select GitLab Self-Managed, enter your host domain, and click Generate a token on GitLab.
3. Log in to your GitLab instance, generate a Personal Access Token with the api and read_user scopes (leave expiration blank), and copy the token.
4. Paste the token into GitKraken Desktop and click Connect.

To configure SSH access after connecting:

• In Preferences > Integrations, click Generate SSH key and add to GitLab to generate and upload a key automatically.
• Or click Add key to GitLab to upload your existing SSH default.

Once connected, GitKraken Desktop lets you clone from your self-hosted repository list, add remotes, and create or view pull requests. To manage more than one GitLab Self-Managed account, use multiple profiles with a GitKraken Pro plan.

Benefits

• Create new repositories with optional .gitignore and license files.
• Automatically generate an SSH key and upload it to GitLab Self-Managed.
• Save authentication credentials using profiles.
• Clone from your GitLab Self-Managed repository list.
• Add and manage remotes for GitLab Self-Managed.
• Create and view pull requests.
• Manage GitLab Self-Managed Issues.

GitLab Self-Managed Authentication

To authenticate:

1. Navigate to Preferences > Integrations in the upper-right corner.

2. Choose Gitlab Self-Managed. Enter your GitLab Self-Managed host domain. Click Generate a token on GitLab and follow the link.

4. In your browser, log in and generate a token. Required scopes: api and read_user. Leave expiration blank.

5. Copy and paste the token into GitKraken, then click Connect.

Generating an SSH Key for GitLab Self-Managed

1. Open Preferences > Integrations.
2. Click Generate SSH key and add to GitLab.

You can also:

• Use Add key to GitLab for an existing SSH Default.
• Use Add existing SSH key to upload a saved key manually.

Connecting to Multiple GitLab Self-Managed Accounts

GitKraken supports one GitLab Self-Managed account per profile. Use multiple profiles with GitKraken Pro to manage separate accounts.