In Git, a remote repository is like a “cloud repository” where you can push your local code to the remote repository for backup or sharing, and also pull others’ modifications from the remote repository. To use a remote repository, you first need to configure the remote repository address in your local repository. This article will guide you step by step on how to add, modify, and delete remote repository addresses, suitable for Git beginners.

1. First Understanding: What is a Remote Repository?¶

A remote repository can be understood as a Git repository hosted on the Internet or a local area network (such as platforms like GitHub, GitLab, Gitee, etc.). The local repository (the repository on your computer) is associated with the remote repository via an address. Common operations include:
- Push: Submit new local code to the remote repository.
- Pull: Fetch others’ modifications or the latest code from the remote repository to the local machine.

If your local repository is not yet associated with any remote repository, you need to add a remote address before performing subsequent operations.

2. View Associated Remote Repositories¶

Before configuring a remote repository, confirm if your local repository has already associated with a remote address. Open the terminal, navigate to your local repository directory, and execute the command:

git remote -v

• This command lists all associated remote repositories and their URLs. If the output is empty, it means no remote repository has been configured yet.

3. Add a Remote Repository Address (Associate a New Repository)¶

When you create a new remote repository (e.g., on GitHub), you need to link your local repository with the remote one. Use the git remote add command:

Command Format:¶

git remote add [repository alias] [remote repository URL]

• Repository Alias: Typically use origin (you can customize it, but origin is the most common, representing “original repository”).
• Remote Repository URL: The repository URL copied from the remote platform (supports HTTPS or SSH format).

Example:¶

Suppose you created a repository on GitHub with the URL https://github.com/your-username/your-repo-name.git. In your local repository, execute:

git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/your-repo-name.git

After execution, your local repository is now associated with the remote repository named origin. Run git remote -v again, and you will see the output includes origin and the corresponding URL.

4. Modify the Remote Repository Address (Update URL)¶

If the remote repository URL changes (e.g., the original repository is migrated to a new server, the URL is invalid, or connection fails due to account/password updates), you need to update the address. Use the git remote set-url command:

Command Format:¶

git remote set-url [repository alias] [new remote repository URL]

Example:¶

Suppose the original origin URL was https://github.com/old-username/old-repo.git, and you need to change it to the new URL https://github.com/new-username/new-repo.git, execute:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/new-username/new-repo.git

After execution, run git remote -v again to see the updated URL.

5. Delete a Remote Repository Address (Disassociate)¶

If you no longer need to associate with a remote repository (e.g., the repository is abandoned or the address is incorrect), you can delete the association. Use git remote remove or git remote rm command:

Command Format:¶

git remote remove [repository alias]
# Or the short form: git remote rm [repository alias]

Example:¶

To delete the remote repository association named origin:

git remote remove origin

After execution, check with git remote -v, and origin will no longer appear in the list.

6. Common Issues and Precautions¶

1. Incorrect URL Format: The remote address must be correct. For example, an HTTPS address must include https://, and an SSH address starts with git@ (e.g., git@github.com:username/repo.git).
2. Unique Repository Alias: If adding multiple repositories, aliases must be unique (e.g., you cannot have two origin aliases simultaneously).
3. Irreversible Deletion: Once a remote repository address is deleted, the local association with the remote is completely broken. If you need to reuse it, you must re-add it.
4. Verify Connection: If using an HTTPS address after modifying it, you may need to re-enter your account password. If using an SSH address, ensure your local SSH keys are configured.

By following the steps above, you have mastered the operations of adding, modifying, and deleting remote repository addresses. In actual use, the most common scenarios are “adding an association” and “modifying the address”. Remember to use git remote -v to check current configurations at any time to avoid errors!