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The Git error src refspec … does not match any usually means Git cannot resolve the source branch or ref named in your push command. Check the branch you are actually on, confirm it exists under the name you intend to push, and make sure there is a commit to send. Then push that local branch by its real name.
What the error means
A push refspec identifies a source object and, optionally, a destination ref. Its general form is [+]<src>[:<dst>]. In a command such as git push origin feature, feature is the source name Git must resolve locally. If no destination is specified, a short source branch name ordinarily targets a remote branch with the same name.
The error is therefore a source-ref resolution problem: Git cannot find the ref you asked it to push under that name. It is not the same as a non-fast-forward rejection, which means the remote has history your push would not safely preserve.
Diagnose the local branch before pushing
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From the repository, check the working tree and current branch with
git status. The output shows the current branch when attached to one and whether there are changes to commit.#1 Best Overall
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List local branch names with
git branch. The branch marked with an asterisk is the current branch. Compare its exact spelling with the source name in your push command. -
If you meant to push a different branch, switch to it with
git switch <branch>. If it does not exist and you intend to create a focused work branch from your current commit, usegit switch -c <branch>.Rank #2
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Check that the work exists as a commit. If the change is only in the working tree or staging area, create a commit first; a branch with no commit to push cannot provide the intended source history.
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Commit the change on a focused branch
Make the change on a branch dedicated to the work rather than committing it directly to a shared base branch. Review the pending changes with git status, stage the intended files, and commit with a message that describes the change:
git add <path>git commit -m "Describe the change"
Replace <path> with the file or directory you intend to include. If you have already committed the work, do not create a redundant commit just to resolve the refspec error; verify the branch name instead.
Push the actual branch name
For a branch’s first push, use git push -u origin <branch>, replacing <branch> with the exact local name shown by git branch. For example, if the branch is named fix-login, run git push -u origin fix-login.
The command pushes that branch to origin and sets its upstream tracking relationship. After that, a plain git push can use the configured upstream, subject to your Git push configuration. Without an upstream, plain push may fail depending on configuration; specifying the branch and remote makes the intended source explicit.
If the push is rejected as non-fast-forward
A non-fast-forward rejection is a separate problem: remote history has advanced, so Git will not update it in a way that would discard that history. Fetch and integrate the remote changes, then push again. Choose merge or rebase according to your team’s convention and the history you want.
Best Value
| Choice | What it does | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Merge | Integrates the remote changes while retaining the integration as a merge commit. | When your team wants the merge recorded in the branch history. |
| Rebase | Replays your local commits on top of the updated remote history. | When your team prefers a linear history and rewriting the branch’s local commits is appropriate. |
Follow your repository’s established procedure for fetching and integrating before retrying the push. Do not use --force as a routine fix: it can replace remote history. If rewriting published history is genuinely intended, --force-with-lease checks the expected remote state before replacing it, but it is still a history rewrite and should be coordinated with anyone using the branch.
Open a pull request for review
Once the feature branch is pushed, open a pull request on your hosting platform. Point it at the intended base branch, describe what changed and why, and invite the relevant reviewers. The pull request is the review step; pushing a branch alone does not create one.
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