Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: Purging file from Git repo failed, unable to create new backup

Git filter-branch error message

Quick Answer: Try running `git filter-branch --index-filter 'git rm --cached --ignore-unmatch Rakefile' HEAD --force` to force overwrite the backup.

The issue you're experiencing is due to Git's backup mechanism. When you run `git filter-branch`, it creates a new backup of your repository in the `.git/original` directory. If this backup already exists, Git won't allow you to overwrite it without using the `-f` flag.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Method 1: Force Overwriting the Backup

  1. Step 1: Run `git filter-branch --index-filter 'git rm --cached --ignore-unmatch Rakefile' HEAD -f` to force Git to overwrite the backup.

Method 2: Delete the Backup Directory

  1. Step 1: Run `rm -rf .git/original` to delete the backup directory.

💡 Conclusion

By following one of these methods, you should be able to remove the file from your remote repository and create a new backup. Make sure to back up your repository before making any changes.

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