How to fix warning: unable to access global gitignore file in Git

GitBEGINNERLOW

Git cannot access the global gitignore file specified in core.excludesfile configuration. This warning appears when the configured path does not exist or is inaccessible.

What this error means

This warning occurs when Git tries to read the global gitignore file (configured via core.excludesfile) but cannot find or access it. The global gitignore file is used to specify ignore patterns that apply across all repositories on your system, typically for editor-specific files like .vscode/ or operating system files like .DS_Store. When Git encounters this issue, it will continue to work normally but will only use repository-specific .gitignore files and the .git/info/exclude file. Files that should be ignored globally may still appear in git status or be accidentally committed. The configuration setting core.excludesfile points to a file location, but Git does not automatically create this file - you must create it manually. If the path contains typos, uses a relative path incorrectly, or points to a file that was deleted, this warning will appear.

How to fix "warning: unable to access global gitignore file"

1Check the configured global gitignore path

First, verify what path Git is trying to access:

bash

git config --global core.excludesfile

If this returns nothing, Git is using the default location ~/.config/git/ignore. If it returns a path, verify whether that file exists:

bash

ls -la ~/.gitignore_global  # Replace with your configured path

2Create the missing global gitignore file

Create the file at the configured location:

bash

# If using the default location
mkdir -p ~/.config/git
touch ~/.config/git/ignore

Or if you have a custom location configured:

bash

touch ~/.gitignore_global  # Replace with your configured path

3Populate the global gitignore with common patterns

Add common patterns that should be ignored across all repositories:

bash

# macOS
.DS_Store
.AppleDouble
.LSOverride

# Windows
Thumbs.db
Desktop.ini

# Linux
*~

# Editors
.vscode/
.idea/
*.swp
*.swo
.sublime-project
.sublime-workspace

# Other
.envrc

You can use [gitignore.io](https://www.toptal.com/developers/gitignore) to generate patterns for your specific setup.

4Set core.excludesfile with absolute path

If the path is incorrect or missing, configure it properly with an absolute path:

bash

# Using tilde expansion (recommended)
git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.gitignore_global

On Windows (use forward slashes):

cmd

git config --global core.excludesfile C:/Users/YourUsername/.gitignore_global

Avoid using relative paths as they are interpreted relative to each repository.

5Check for local repository config override

If the issue persists in a specific repository, check if local config is overriding the global setting:

bash

# Inside the repository
git config core.excludesfile

If this returns a different (incorrect) path, remove it:

bash

git config --unset core.excludesfile

Or edit .git/config directly and remove the [core] section entry for excludesfile.

6Verify the fix

Confirm Git can now access the file:

bash

# This should complete without warnings
git status

Test that patterns are working:

bash

# Create a test file that should be ignored
touch .DS_Store
git status  # Should not show .DS_Store

Use git check-ignore to debug specific files:

bash

git check-ignore -v .DS_Store
# Should show: ~/.gitignore_global:1:.DS_Store

How to fix warning: unable to access global gitignore file in Git

What this error means

Typical symptoms

Common causes

How to fix "warning: unable to access global gitignore file"

Advanced notes

Related errors

Official resources & further reading