Gitignore not working guide
Step-by-step fixes for tracked files and cache issues.
Explore resourceGitIgnore Not Working?Fix It Now!
Solve common gitignore issues instantly with our step-by-step troubleshooting guide. Get your git ignore patterns working correctly in minutes.
⚠️
Most Common Issue:
Files were already tracked before adding them to .gitignore
🚀Quick Fix (Works 90% of the Time)
# 1. Remove files from Git tracking (keeps local files)
git rm -r --cached .
# 2. Add all files back (respecting .gitignore)
git add .
# 3. Commit the changes
git commit -m "Fix .gitignore"
💡 Pro Tip: This removes ALL files from Git's index and re-adds them, respecting your current .gitignore rules. Your local files won't be deleted.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
1Files Already Tracked Before .gitignore
Problem: You added files to .gitignore but Git still tracks them.
Solution:
# For specific file:
git rm --cached filename.ext
# For entire folder:
git rm -r --cached foldername/
# Then commit:
git commit -m "Stop tracking ignored files"
2Wrong .gitignore Syntax
Problem: Your .gitignore patterns aren't written correctly.
❌ Wrong
/node_modules
*.log*
src/config.js
✅ Correct
node_modules/
*.log
/src/config.js
3.gitignore File in Wrong Location
Problem: .gitignore file is not in your project root directory.
✅ Correct Location:
your-project/
├── .git/
├── .gitignore ← Here!
├── src/
└── package.json
4Case Sensitivity Issues
Problem: Git is case-sensitive, but your operating system might not be.
⚠️ Watch Out:
- •
Config.jsandconfig.jsare different files to Git - • Always use exact case in your .gitignore patterns
- • Check your actual file names with
ls -laordir
🧪Test Your .gitignore
Use these commands to check if your .gitignore is working:
# Check if a file is ignored:
git check-ignore -v filename.ext
# See all ignored files:
git status --ignored
# List all tracked files:
git ls-files
🛡️Prevention Tips
- ✓Always create .gitignore before your first commit (see our creation guide)
- ✓Use our gitignore generator for your tech stack
- ✓Test patterns with our validator tool
- ✓Review .gitignore in code reviews (use our diff tool to compare changes)
📚 Need More Advanced Solutions?
Framework-specific fixes for Python __pycache__, Node.js node_modules, Unity Library/, and complex scenarios
Complete Solution Guide →Continue fixing your repository
Add .gitignore to existing projects
Clean up historical repositories without losing work.
Explore resourceValidate your rules
Test patterns interactively before committing changes.
Explore resourceVerify your repository is clean
Run the validator and diff tools to make sure no sensitive files leak again.