Git Error - Unable to resolve reference refs/remotes/origin/master reference broken

When I tried to do a git pull, I’m getting the following error:

$ git pull

error: cannot lock ref 'refs/remotes/origin/master':
    unable to resolve reference 'refs/remotes/origin/master': reference broken
  1. Accepted Answer - 1
  2. Accepted Answer - 2

Accepted Answer - 1

To fix this error, remove the following file YOURPROJECT/.git/refs/remotes/origin/master, and then run git fetch to download it again.

Execute the following command within your project’s directory.

rm .git/refs/remotes/origin/master 
git fetch

Then run git pull and it should work this time.

git pull
> Already up to date.

Note: Use the command for any branch that’s giving the error. For example, if I’m getting error for the main branch instead, I could do the following:

rm .git/refs/remotes/origin/main 
git fetch

Accepted Answer - 2

You can fix this error by cleaning up your local repository.

git gc --prune=now

Additionally, you can also run,

git remote prune origin

Please add or improve the answers above. All contributions are welcome and will help the next person.

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