How do I solve a Git checkout error updating paths is incompatible with switching branches

Question

I’m trying to fetch a remote branch by running the following command:

git checkout -b local-name origin/remote-name

But this leads to the following error:

fatal: git checkout: updating paths is incompatible with switching branches.
Did you intend to checkout 'origin/remote-name' which can not be resolved as commit?

Answer 1

This error occurs when you are checking out a remote branch that your local git repo is unaware of. To solve this, run:

git remote show origin

If the remote branch you are trying to checkout is specified under "New remote branches" and not under "Tracked remote branches" then you have to fetch the branch first, follow the below commands:

git remote update
git fetch

Now try:

git checkout -b local-name origin/remote-name