How to fix: error: '' does not have a commit checked out fatal: adding files failed when inputting “git add .” in command prompt

Question

I\'m trying to add a ruby rails file to my repository in gitlab but it somehow wouldn\'t allow me to add the file saying that my file does not have commit checked out.

Answer 1

You don't need to delete the entire file from the directory as the first answer suggests, I just had to delete the .git directory, and then your git add . will work

This happens for the reason @Mario Zigliotto suggested, there is another repo in a subdirectory under that repo.

Answer 2

To add to Mario's (correct) answer and resolve this type of issue which can be quite common (e.g.in scaffolding an application using an app generator inside a repository top folder, and it generates its own .git file), you can run the following commands to cleanup and get the files checked in properly to git.

cd {{appname}}
rm -rf .git 
# rm -r -fo .git # if on Windows powershell
cd ..    
git add .  

Answer 3

I had the same error Message. I fixed it by deleting the file which causes the error from my Directory.

I hope this helps =)

Answer 4

If you have a subdirectory with a .git directory and try to git add . you will see this message.

This can happen if you have a git repo and then create/clone another repo in a subdirectory under that repo.

Answer 5

I had the same error message when trying to add multiple files using "git add ." I was able to add all those files one by one instead of all at the same time.

Answer 6

I had the same Error Message. I fixed it by command below:

git add folder-name/* instead of git add .

My Folder directory is like below:

Main-folder
 -folder-one
 -folder-two

ref: https://github.community/t/error-git-add/2937