FIX GIT

How to Fix: Error: Src Refspec Master Does Not Match Any in Git

Are you encountering the src refspec master does not match any error in Git? Don’t worry. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to fix this error and get your version control back on track.

Juan Cruz Martinez
4 min readMar 29
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If you’re a developer using Git, you’ve probably encountered the error message “src refspec master does not match any” at some point. This error can be frustrating and confusing, especially for beginners who are new to version control.

In this article, we’ll explain what this error message means common causes of the error and provide you with several solutions to help you fix it.

If you have this exact error, naming the master branch in the error message, and you want a quick attempt to fix it without reading any further, try: git push origin main. If that doesn’t help, keep reading as this error can be caused by different reasons.

Understanding the Error Message

The error message “src refspec master does not match any” is usually caused by Git when pushing changes and not finding the master branch in your remote repository.

The actual error can happen with any branch, and the branch will be highlighted in the error itself, “Error: src refspec {branch} does not match any”.

This could be due to several reasons, including:

  • The branch name may be incorrect (e.g., it is called main).
  • There may be no commits on the branch.
  • The branch may have been deleted.

Common Fixes for the Error

Working on the Wrong Default Branch

This error happened a lot when we moved from using master to main as the default branch in most systems, for example, GitHub.

Most local copies of projects were using the master branch, but the repository default branch was renamed to main.

The best way to find out if your branch exists in the remote repository is by running git

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Juan Cruz Martinez

I help people learn tech skills so they can level up their life. Founder of https://livecodestream.dev, content creator, and Oktanaut!