How to Fix Git Push Rejected Error Quickly

A git push rejected error happens when your local branch is behind the remote branch or has conflicts. To fix it, first run git pull --rebase to update your local branch, resolve any conflicts, then push again with git push.

Why This Happens

This error occurs because your local branch is out of sync with the remote branch. Someone else pushed changes to the remote branch after your last update. Git rejects your push to prevent overwriting those changes.

bash

git push origin main

Output

error: failed to push some refs to 'origin'
hint: Updates were rejected because the remote contains work that you do
hint: not have locally. This is usually caused by another repository pushing
hint: to the same ref. You may want to first integrate the remote changes
hint: (e.g., 'git pull ...') before pushing again.
fatal: Could not update refs/heads/main

The Fix

To fix this, first update your local branch with the remote changes using git pull --rebase. This applies your changes on top of the latest remote commits. If there are conflicts, resolve them, then continue the rebase. Finally, push your changes again.

bash

git pull --rebase origin main
git push origin main

Output

First, git pulls and rebases:
Successfully rebased and updated refs/heads/main.
Then, git push succeeds:
To origin
   abc1234..def5678  main -> main

Prevention

To avoid this error, regularly pull changes from the remote branch before starting your work. Use git pull --rebase to keep your history clean. Communicate with your team to avoid pushing conflicting changes at the same time.

Also, consider enabling branch protection rules on shared branches to prevent force pushes and accidental overwrites.

Related Errors

1. Non-fast-forward updates were rejected: Happens when your push would overwrite remote commits. Fix by pulling and rebasing first.

2. Permission denied: You lack rights to push. Check your SSH keys or access permissions.

3. Remote branch deleted: The branch was removed remotely. Verify branch existence or create a new branch.

Key Takeaways

Always pull remote changes with 'git pull --rebase' before pushing.

Resolve conflicts during rebase before pushing your changes.

Communicate with your team to avoid simultaneous conflicting pushes.

Use branch protection to prevent accidental overwrites on shared branches.

Check permissions if push is rejected due to access issues.