How to Change Git Remote URL?

When working with Git repositories, you may need to change the Git remote URL for several reasons. For example, a repository may have moved to a different hosting service, the repository name may have changed, or you may want to switch from an HTTPS connection to SSH.

Git stores remote repository information in the local repository configuration. The most common remote is called origin, and you can update its URL without creating a new repository or losing your existing commits, branches, or working files.

The most common command for changing a Git remote URL is:

git remote set-url origin NEW_URL

For example:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/example/project.git

After running this command, Git will use the new URL when you push or pull from the origin remote.

What is a Git Remote URL?

A Git remote is a reference to another repository, usually hosted on a platform such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.

You can view the remote URL configured for your repository with:

git remote -v

A typical result looks like:

origin  https://github.com/example/old-project.git (fetch)

origin  https://github.com/example/old-project.git (push)

Here, origin is the remote name and the URL identifies the remote repository.

A repository can have multiple remotes, but origin is commonly used as the primary remote.

How to Check the Current Git Remote URL?

Before changing the URL, it is a good idea to check the existing configuration.

Run:

git remote -v

You can also use:

git remote get-url origin

The second command displays only the URL associated with the origin remote.

For example:

https://github.com/example/project.git

This helps confirm which remote you need to modify.

How to Change Git Remote URL Using set-url?

The recommended method is to use git remote set-url.

Syntax

git remote set-url  

For the default origin remote:

git remote set-url origin 

For example:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/example/new-project.git

You can verify the change with:

git remote -v

The output should now show the updated repository URL.

How to Change Git Remote from HTTPS to SSH?

Developers sometimes switch from HTTPS to SSH for Git authentication.

Suppose the current remote is:

https://github.com/example/project.git

You can change it to an SSH URL:

git remote set-url origin git@github.com:example/project.git

Then verify the new URL:

git remote -v

You should see:

origin  git@github.com:example/project.git (fetch)

origin  git@github.com:example/project.git (push)

Before using an SSH remote, make sure an appropriate SSH key is configured with your Git hosting provider.

How to Change Git Remote from SSH to HTTPS?

You can also switch an existing SSH remote back to HTTPS.

For example:

git remote set-url origin

https://github.com/example/project.git

Then check the configuration:

git remote -v

This allows you to confirm that both fetch and push operations are using the expected URL.

How to Change the Git Remote URL Manually?

Although git remote set-url is generally the simplest approach, Git stores repository configuration in the .git/config file.

You can inspect it with:

cat .git/config

You may see a configuration similar to:

[remote "origin"]

url = https://github.com/example/project.git

fetch = +refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*

You can edit this configuration manually, but using the Git command is usually safer and more convenient:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/example/new-project.git

How to Change a Remote When the Remote Name Is Different?

Not every repository uses origin as its remote name.

First, list all configured remotes:

git remote

For example:

origin

upstream

If you want to change the URL for upstream, use:

git remote set-url upstream https://github.com/example/project.git

Then verify it:

git remote -v

This is important when working with repositories that have multiple remotes.

How to Add a New Git Remote?

If the remote does not exist yet, set-url will not create it. Instead, use git remote add.

git remote add origin

https://github.com/example/project.git

Then verify:

git remote -v

If origin already exists, Git will return an error indicating that the remote already exists.

In that situation, use:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/example/project.git

How to Rename a Git Remote?

If you want to change the remote name rather than its URL, use git remote rename.

For example:

git remote rename origin upstream

Then verify the available remotes:

git remote

The result should include:

upstream

Remember that changing a remote’s name and changing its URL are two different operations.

How to Change Git Remote URL After Repository Migration?

Suppose your project was previously hosted at:

https://github.com/example/old-project.git

and has been moved to:

https://github.com/example/new-project.git

You do not need to clone the repository again.

From the existing local repository, run:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/example/new-project.git

Then verify:

git remote -v

You can subsequently use your normal Git commands:

git pull

git push

Your existing local commits and branches remain in the repository.

How to Verify the New Git Remote URL?

After changing the remote, always verify the configuration.

The simplest command is:

git remote -v

You can also inspect only the origin URL:

git remote get-url origin

For additional information about the remote, use:

git remote show origin

This can provide information about the remote repository and its tracked branches.

Common Git Remote URL Errors

https://github.com/example/project.git

Run:

git remote get-url origin

ssh -T git@github.com

Git Change Remote URL: Quick Reference

git remote -v

git remote set-url origin 

git remote -v