Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: Git error when trying to push -- pre-receive hook declined

Git pre-receive hook declined error when pushing changes.

Quick Answer: The pre-receive hook is declining your push because it's not configured to allow pushes from your local repository. Check the server-side Git configuration and ensure that the hooks are set up correctly.

When you encounter the 'Git error when trying to push -- pre-receive hook declined' issue, it's essential to understand that this is typically triggered by a misconfigured Git repository or an incorrect SSH configuration. The pre-receive hook is a security feature designed to ensure that all incoming commits adhere to specific rules before they are accepted into your repository.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • Incorrect SSH configuration or a mismatch between your local and remote repository settings.
  • A pre-receive hook is not correctly configured on your remote server, preventing new commits from being accepted.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Method 1: Verify SSH Configuration

  1. Step 1: Check your local Git repository's configuration by running `git config --local --get remote.origin.url` and verify that it matches the URL used in your SSH connection.

Method 2: Inspect Pre-receive Hook Configuration

  1. Step 1: Locate the path to your remote repository's .git/hooks/pre-receive file. This file typically resides in the root of your Git repository.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve any issues causing the 'pre-receive hook declined' error. Remember, it's crucial to ensure that your Git configuration and pre-receive hooks are correctly set up for secure and reliable collaboration.

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