Leaving Github, how to change the origin of a Git repo?

Question

I'm hosting a project in Github, but now I purchased a plan with Dreamhost that includes shell access and Git.

      Github [Origin]
       /         \
  pull/           \pull
     /push     push\
    /               \  
Laptop           Dreamhost
(cloned)          (cloned)

I would like to delete my repo from Github, and starting push directly to DH.

How do I change origin in my Laptop, and should I delete the origin in Dreamhost?

clee · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-13T19:15:33.460

127

git remote rename origin github
git remote add origin <DreamHost-git-URL>
# test and make sure the DreamHost origin works properly for fetch and push
git remote rm github

I prefer using the 'git remote' command instead of screwing about with the .git/config file by hand.

edited May 13 '14 at 19:15

answered Jun 10 '10 at 03:23

clee

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I agree. I consider the format of `.git/config` an implementation detail, I *always* use the tools like `git remote` and `git config` to make sure I don't screw up the syntax. – Jörg W Mittag Jun 10 '10 at 15:10
1

Oh +1 because I like this. But you should add further infos how to migrate the tracking branches afterwards... – hurikhan77 Jun 12 '10 at 19:45
2

I had to add `git config branch.master.remote origin`. It seems like git changed that variable as a side effect of the remote rename. – Daniel Luna Jul 12 '11 at 21:41
5

I had to run following commands: `git config branch.master.remote origin` `git config branch.master.merge refs/heads/master` – JoaoHornburg Feb 15 '12 at 18:29
@DanielLuna thanks for your comment, I added this to the answer. – Thomas Sep 06 '12 at 08:56
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Also after doing the steps that @JoaoHornburg mentioned I had to `push origin master` on the first push to create a master branch on the new bare repo. After than `git push` worked fine. – Daniel May 10 '13 at 15:46
Easier way is: `git remote set-url origin ` – Craigo Sep 01 '22 at 04:44

score 58 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 12 '11 at 12:47

58

The easiest way is:

$ git config remote.origin.url <Dreamhost-git-URL>

You show the remotes after this:

$ git remote -v
origin Dreamhost-git-URL (fetch)
origin Dreamhost-git-URL (push)

answered Apr 12 '11 at 12:47

Octavi Fornés

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Yep, seems the best solution. – Profpatsch Mar 13 '13 at 14:27
I don't think this solution existed in the released versions of git at the time I wrote my answer, but it definitely seems easier. :) – clee Oct 21 '15 at 17:23

score 28 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 08 '12 at 15:34

28

The best way is to git remote set-url origin <new-url>

answered Jun 08 '12 at 15:34

slashingweapon

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this comment should be top. the only one-liner that doesn't depend on git's internal config structure – Bouke Versteegh Aug 21 '15 at 13:12
I agree, I think this is the best answer. It's simple and does what you need in one line. – imns Feb 08 '16 at 16:11

score 26 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 21 '11 at 16:38

26

The easiest way is to edit your .git/config file on your laptop. Simply search for your github url and replace it with the one from DreamHost. Make sure that your ssh public key is set on Dreamhost. Now you can push origin master and you will have populated your dreamhost repository.

You can delete origin on dreamhost but there is no need.

Also, ensure that the repository that is there is bare. By default, you cannot push to non-bare repositories.

edited Dec 21 '11 at 16:38

user229044

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answered Jun 10 '10 at 03:20

Adam Dymitruk

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Well, as you said, it's a non-bare repo, I'm a little confused. What to do now ? – Ben Orozco Jun 10 '10 at 03:48
Found http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1784506/when-creating-a-git-repository-that-will-be-on-the-server-can-i-convert-it-to-a – Ben Orozco Jun 10 '10 at 03:55
As above, all you need is the --bare option when cloning what is going to be an upstream repo. – Adam Dymitruk Jun 10 '10 at 05:01
Well, you CAN push to non-bare repos - but you REALLY SHOULD NOT! – hurikhan77 Jun 12 '10 at 19:44
thanks for the advice. i thought it would be as easy as changing the config, just needed confirmation. – thescientist Nov 23 '12 at 07:16
A comment from a suggested edit: By default, you cannot push to non-bare repositories. **(at least not to the branch that is currently checkouted there).** – John Dvorak Jan 05 '13 at 20:24

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 10 '10 at 03:21

4

The easiest way is to edit your .git/config file, which lists where the origin lives. You can test it by running a git fetch

You can delete the remote references on the Dreamhost side if you like, in the same file.

answered Jun 10 '10 at 03:21

Yann Ramin

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gjambet · Answer 6 · 2020-12-24T09:07:41.200

2

why not simply :

git remote remove origin

git remote add origin <Dreamhost-git-URL>

git push -u origin --all --tags

edited Dec 24 '20 at 09:07

answered Jun 19 '14 at 21:13

gjambet

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I had created an empty repository on github. On local setup, I had cloned from the repository, then added some files and pushed to the github repository. Then I created a fresh repository on gitlab, and imported code from the github repository. Now I want to change the remote repository reference of my local repository to this gitlab repository. I did `git remote add origin ` on my local repository. It did not not show any error (am I supposed to get some result? I did not get any success message either). But, now I am not able to see changes made in the gitlab repo on my local. – Sandeepan Nath Mar 17 '16 at 08:14
I have tried all the suggestions but I don't have the tags in the new origin. How I have to do for moving the tags too? – Stefano Bossi Dec 22 '20 at 21:42
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@StefanoBossi : git push --tags ? – gjambet Dec 24 '20 at 09:00

Leaving Github, how to change the origin of a Git repo?

6 Answers6