---
title: Step-by-step Guide: Resolving 'Your Configuration Specifies to Merge with the Ref' Error
description: A comprehensive guide to help developers troubleshoot and fix the 'Your Configuration Specifies to Merge with the Ref' error in Git.
---
In this guide, we will walk you through the process of resolving the 'Your configuration specifies to merge with the ref' error in Git. This error can occur when you are trying to push your changes to a remote repository, and your local branch is not properly set up to track the remote branch.
## Table of Contents
1. [Understanding the Error](#understanding-the-error)
2. [Step 1: Identify the Issue](#step-1-identify-the-issue)
3. [Step 2: Resolve the Error](#step-2-resolve-the-error)
4. [Step 3: Verify the Fix](#step-3-verify-the-fix)
5. [FAQs](#faqs)
## Understanding the Error
Before diving into the solution, it's important to understand why this error occurs. The 'Your configuration specifies to merge with the ref' error occurs when your local branch is not properly set up to track the remote branch. This can happen if you have recently cloned the repository, switched branches, or made other changes to your Git configuration.
**Source**: [Stack Overflow: Your configuration specifies to merge with the ref 'refs/heads/master'](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/16330404/how-to-resolve-git-error-your-configuration-specifies-to-merge-with-the-ref)
## Step 1: Identify the Issue
To identify the issue causing the error, you need to check the output of the following command:
git config --get-regexp branch.*.merge
This will show you the branches that have a merge configuration. If the output is empty or does not include the branch you are trying to push, it means your local branch is not set up to track the remote branch, causing the error.
## Step 2: Resolve the Error
To resolve the error, you need to set up your local branch to track the remote branch. You can do this using the following command:
git branch --set-upstream-to=origin/
Replace `<remote-branch>` with the name of the remote branch and `<local-branch>` with the name of your local branch.
**For example:**
git branch --set-upstream-to=origin/master master
This command will set up your local `master` branch to track the remote `origin/master` branch.
## Step 3: Verify the Fix
After setting up the tracking, you can verify that the issue is resolved by running the `git push` command again. If the error is fixed, you should see a successful push message.
## FAQs
### 1. What is a remote branch in Git?
A remote branch is a branch that is stored on a remote repository, such as GitHub or GitLab. It is used to collaborate with other developers and share code changes.
### 2. How do I check the tracking branches in Git?
You can check the tracking branches in Git using the following command:
git branch -vv
This command will show you the list of local branches along with their tracking branches.
### 3. Can I set up multiple local branches to track the same remote branch?
Yes, you can set up multiple local branches to track the same remote branch. However, this can lead to confusion and conflicts when pushing or pulling changes.
### 4. How do I remove a tracking branch in Git?
To remove a tracking branch, you can use the following command:
git branch --unset-upstream
Replace `<local-branch>` with the name of the local branch you want to remove the tracking from.
### 5. What is the difference between 'git fetch' and 'git pull'?
`git fetch` is used to download updates from a remote repository without merging the changes into your local branch. On the other hand, `git pull` downloads the updates and automatically merges the changes into your local branch.
## Related Links
- [Git Documentation: Syncing with Remote Repositories](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Branching-Remote-Branches)
- [GitHub Help: Configuring a Remote for a Fork](https://help.github.com/en/github/collaborating-with-issues-and-pull-requests/configuring-a-remote-for-a-fork)