How to Fix Git ‘remote: Repository not found’ Error?

When using Git to clone, push, or pull from a remote repository, you might encounter the error message: remote: Repository not found. This error indicates that Git is unable to locate the repository on the remote server. In this article, we will see how to troubleshoot and fix this issue.

The remote: Repository not found error typically occurs due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Incorrect repository URL
• Lack of access permissions
• The repository does not exist
• Mistakes in authentication details

Step 1: Verify the Repository URL

Ensure that the URL is correct and complete. For example, if you’re using GitHub, the URL should be in the form:

https://github.com/username/repository.git

You can check the URL by running:

git remote -v

If the URL is incorrect, update it using:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/username/repository.git

Step 2: Check Access Permissions

• Make sure you have the correct permissions to access the repository. If the repository is private, you need to have read access (for cloning and pulling) or write access (for pushing).
• Verify your access permissions with the repository owner or by checking your repository settings on the hosting service (e.g., GitHub, GitLab).

Step 3. Authenticate Properly

• If you’re using HTTPS, ensure your username and password are correct. With two-factor authentication enabled, you may need to use a personal access token instead of your password.
• For SSH access, ensure your SSH keys are correctly set up and added to the remote server (e.g., GitHub, GitLab). You can test your SSH connection with:

ssh -T git@github.com

• If using a personal access token (PAT), update your remote URL to include the token:

git remote set-url origin https://<your-token>@github.com/username/repository.git

Step 4: Confirm the Repository Exists

Verify that the repository exists on the remote server. Check the repository URL in your browser or through the hosting service’s interface.

Step 5: Correct Repository Case Sensitivity

Repository names and URLs are case-sensitive. Ensure the exact case is used in the repository URL:

https://github.com/username/Repository.git

If the case is incorrect, update the remote URL with the correct case.

Step 6: Check Network Issues

Ensure your internet connection is stable and that there are no network issues preventing access to the remote server.

Step 7: Re-clone the Repository

As a last resort, if none of the above steps work, try deleting the local repository and cloning it again:

git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git

Example 1: Updating the Remote URL, Suppose you cloned a repository using an incorrect URL. Here’s how you can fix it.

1. Check the current remote URL:

git remote -v

2. Set the correct URL:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/username/correct-repo.git

Example 2: Adding an SSH Key,If you’re using SSH and facing authentication issues:

1. Generate a new SSH key if you don’t have one:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com"

2. Add the SSH key to the SSH agent:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa

3. Add the SSH key to your GitHub/GitLab account by copying the key:

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

4. Add the SSH key to your remote URL:

git remote set-url origin git@github.com:username/repository.git