fatal: not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git

An error that begins with “fatal” never sounds good. Do not worry; the cause of the fatal: not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git error is simple. This error is raised when you try to run a Git command outside of a Git repository.

In this guide, we talk about this error and why it is raised. We walk through two potential solutions so you can learn how to overcome a “not a git repository” error when working with Git. Without further ado, let’s begin!

fatal: not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git

The cause of this error message is running a Git command outside of a directory in which a Git folder is initialized. For instance, if you try to run “git commit” in a non-Git folder, you see an error. Git cannot run unless you view a folder configured with Git.

This is because Git is configured in a specific directory. Every Git project has a secret folder called .git/. You can view this folder by running the following command:

ls -la

.git/ contains all of the configuration files for a repository. Without this folder, Git does not know anything about a project. This folder contains information such as the Git remotes associated with a repository, Git environment variables, and your current HEAD.

Run git commit inside a folder that is not a Git repo:

git commit

This command returns:

fatal: not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git

Let’s solve this error.

Two Possible Causes

There are two possible causes for the “not a git repository” error.

Viewing the Wrong Directory

Check whether you view the correct directory. For instance, if you are in your home folder, you are not in a Git folder. If you are in a project folder, ensure it is the one where initialized a Git folder.

No Git Repository Has Been Initialized

If you are in a project folder and you see a “not a git repository” error, check whether a repository is initialized. You can do this by running ls -la and checking for a .git/ folder.

If no .git/ folder is present, you have not initialized a repository. This means there is no record of Git inside a particular project folder.

To solve this error, run git init in your project folder:

git init

The git init command initializes a new Git repository in your current working directory.

Conclusion

The “not a git repository” error is common. The cause is running a Git command in the wrong folder or running a Git command before initializing a Git repository. 

Now you’re ready to solve the “not a git repository” error like an expert developer!