"fatal: Not a git repository (or any of the parent directories)" from git status

Question

This command works to get the files and compile them:

git clone a-valid-git-url

for example:

git clone git://cfdem.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/cfdem/liggghts

However, git status (or any other git command) then gives the above fatal: Not a git repository (or any of the parent directories) error.

What am I doing wrong?

The checked-out code is in the `liggghts` directory. – Eugen Constantin Dinca Aug 14 '12 at 22:18 — Eugen Constantin Dinca, Aug 14 '12 at 22:18

score 211 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 14 '12 at 22:19

211

You have to actually cd into the directory first:

$ git clone git://cfdem.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/cfdem/liggghts
Cloning into 'liggghts'...
remote: Counting objects: 3005, done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (2141/2141), done.
remote: Total 3005 (delta 1052), reused 2714 (delta 827)
Receiving objects: 100% (3005/3005), 23.80 MiB | 2.22 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (1052/1052), done.

$ git status
fatal: Not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git
$ cd liggghts/
$ git status
# On branch master
nothing to commit (working directory clean)

answered Aug 14 '12 at 22:19

Michael Durrant

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You also get this error when git hoses it's own .git directory. I did a pull, and saw the message "Auto packing the repository in background for optimum performance." I then tried to do some more operations, only getting OP's error message. My .git folder is still there, but git has somehow corrupted it. Running `git init` fixed the problem. – Cerin Oct 27 '18 at 00:47
7

How stupid I am. Trying git status before going to the directory :) Thank you so much. – webHasan Mar 17 '20 at 07:13

score 29 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 11 '17 at 00:08

29

I just got this message and there is a very simple answer before trying the others. At the parent directory, type git init

This will initialize the directory for git. Then git add and git commit should work.

edited Jan 11 '17 at 00:08

Syden

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answered Jan 10 '17 at 21:40

Bill

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Before or after the clone? Would this create a new git repo? How would this work with the existing git repo and history that was cloned? What happens to the original `remote` setting under this arrangement? – Michael Durrant Aug 23 '19 at 10:45
This is the git equivalent of forgetting a semi-colon, gosh I feel so stupid – Malekai Aug 03 '22 at 10:16

score 15 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 02 '15 at 09:15

15

In my case, was an environment variable GIT_DIR, which I added to access faster.

This also broke all my local repos in SourceTree :(

answered Oct 02 '15 at 09:15

lucasvc

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export GIT_DIR=path/to/dir/.git – Pipper Tetsing Oct 13 '22 at 09:02
omg.. I accidentally introduced a variable with exact same name in my scripts, and got the problem – Possum Gallo Nov 25 '22 at 12:03

score 10 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 19 '16 at 03:44

10

Sometimes its because of ssh. So you can use this:

git clone https://cfdem.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/cfdem/liggghts

instead of:

git clone git://cfdem.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/cfdem/liggghts

answered Dec 19 '16 at 03:44

Umit Kaya

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I was getting the error just trying to clone a repo to my local machine. I switched FROM using https:// TO git:// and it was successfully cloned. Thx for pointing me in the right direction. – Scott Wade Jun 27 '20 at 17:55
I used git clone git@....xyz.git and it worked for me. – Altaf Patel Jun 05 '23 at 11:18

score 5 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 17 '20 at 08:46

If Existing Project Solution is planned to move on TSF in VS Code:

open Terminal and run following commands:

Initialize git in that folder (root Directory)

git init
Add Git

git add .
Link your TSf/Git to that Project - {url} replace with your git address

git remote add origin {url}
Commit those Changes:

git commit -m "initial commit"
Push - I pushed code as version1 you can use any name for your branch

git push origin HEAD:Version1

score 4 · Answer 6 · edited Aug 11 '14 at 17:45

in my case, i had the same problem while i try any git -- commands (eg git status) using windows cmd. so what i do is after installing git for window https://windows.github.com/ in the environmental variables, add the class path of the git on the "PATH" varaiable. usually the git will installed on C:/user/"username"/appdata/local/git/bin add this on the PATH in the environmental variable

and one more thing on the cmd go to your git repository or cd to where your clone are on your window usually they will be stored on the documents under github

cd Document/Github/yourproject

after that you can have any git commands

score 4 · Answer 7 · edited Oct 02 '17 at 18:41

git clone https://github.com/klevamane/projone.git
Cloning into 'projone'...
remote: Counting objects: 81, done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (66/66), done.
remote: Total 81 (delta 13), reused 78 (delta 13), pack-reused 0
Unpacking objects: 100% (81/81), done.

you have to "cd projone"

then you can check status.

One reason why this was difficult to notice at first, i because you created a folder with the same name already in your computer and that was where you cloned the project into, so you have to change directory again

score 4 · Answer 8 · answered Jan 26 '19 at 21:51

4

This error got resolved when I tried initialising the git using git init . It worked

answered Jan 26 '19 at 21:51

Roopal

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score 3 · Answer 9 · answered Aug 14 '14 at 16:56

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I had another problem. I was in a git directory, but got there through a symlink. I had to go into the directory directly (i.e. not through the symlink) then it worked fine.

answered Aug 14 '14 at 16:56

Frank Conry

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Madlozoz · Answer 10 · 2017-08-09T10:39:46.873

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In my case, the original repository was a bare one.

So, I had to type (in windows):

mkdir   dest
cd dest
git init
git remote add origin a\valid\yet\bare\repository
git pull origin master

To check if a repository is a bare one:

git rev-parse --is-bare-repository

edited Aug 09 '17 at 10:39

answered Aug 09 '17 at 10:34

Madlozoz

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score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Jul 10 '17 at 13:16

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Simply, after you clone the repo you need to cd (change your current directory) to the new cloned folder

git clone https://User_Name@bitbucket.org/Repo_Name.git

cd Repo_Name

answered Jul 10 '17 at 13:16

Abdallah Okasha

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score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Oct 04 '18 at 19:39

I suddenly got an error like in any directory I tried to run any git command from:

fatal: Not a git repository: /Users/me/Desktop/../../.git/modules/some-submodule

For me, turned out I had a hidden file .git on my Desktop with the content:

gitdir: ../../.git/modules/some-module

Removed that file and fixed.

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Apr 19 '19 at 05:49

i have the same problem from my office network. i use this command but its not working for me url, so like this: before $ git clone https://gitlab.com/omsharma/Resume.git

After i Use this URL : $ git clone https://my_gitlab_user@gitlab.com/omsharma/Resume.git try It.

score 0 · Answer 14 · answered Dec 12 '22 at 06:31

0

In my case I was dealing with github workflow jobs and simply forgot to checkout the repo before my step. Adding pre requisite step actions/checkout@v2 resolved the issue.

answered Dec 12 '22 at 06:31

Amir Chatrbahr

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"fatal: Not a git repository (or any of the parent directories)" from git status

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