How to Fix Another Git Process Seems to Be Running in This Repository Error

This article outlines the steps necessary to solve the Another git process seems to be running in this repository error on Git. The message itself is self-explanatory.

It simply alerts you of a different process running in Git while trying to run a command. Git allows us to run one command at a time.

If you are unsure how to go around this error, stick around. We have a lot to unpack.

Fix the Another git process seems to be running in this repository Error

As mentioned earlier, the Git version control system can only run one command simultaneously. This helps conserve the integrity of our repositories.

For easier context, we will simulate a scenario where Git gives us the Another git process seems to be running in this repository. Consider the scenario below.

We have two processes running simultaneously in our Git repository. One process is pulling changes while the other is committing a change.

This situation will confuse Git because it will not know whether to commit or pull changes first.

You can get the same error if a previous command you attempted to run crashed or if you are attempting to run two Git commands at the same time.

Example Scenario

We will use the integrated Git text editor to make changes to the README.md file in our repository and commit the changes while the editor is open.

Ideally, this should give us the error. Let’s get started.

We will update our README.md file and commit the changes.

$ git add README.md
$ git commit m "Update MD"

Output:

This message tells us that our commit cannot go through because another process runs on Git.

Solution

The easiest way to solve this error is by deleting the index.lock file from our repository. Git creates an index.lock file every time we attempt to run a Git command.

This file is stored in the Git configuration file, and we can delete it using the command below.

rm -f .git/index.lock

The command above will clear the cache on our index, allowing us to complete our commit command. Note that we do not use git rm because the index.lock file is not part of our tracked Git repository.

In a nutshell, you cannot run two Git processes simultaneously.

If Git gives you the Another git process seems to be running in this repository error, you must delete the index.lock file to free up Git. Then you can run the command you desire.