Article version: Enterprise Server 2.14

This version of GitHub Enterprise will be discontinued on This version of GitHub Enterprise was discontinued on 2019-07-12. No patch releases will be made, even for critical security issues. For better performance, improved security, and new features, upgrade to the latest version of GitHub Enterprise. For help with the upgrade, contact GitHub Enterprise support.

Cloning a repository from GitHub

You can clone a remote repository to your local machine. If you run into errors, there are some common troubleshooting solutions.

Cloning a repository

When you create a repository on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance, it exists as a remote repository. You can clone your repository to create a local copy on your computer and sync between the two locations.

HTTPS cloning errors

There are a few common errors when using HTTPS with Git. These errors usually indicate you have an old version of Git, or you don't have access to the repository.

"Error: Repository not found"

If you see this error when cloning a repository, it means that the repository does not exist, you do not have permission to access it, or your GitHub Enterprise instance is in private mode. There are a few solutions to this error, depending on the cause.

"Error: Remote HEAD refers to nonexistent ref, unable to checkout"

This error occurs if the default branch of a repository has been deleted on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance.

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