fatal: ambiguous argument
This error matches known, documented patterns with reliable solutions.
Quick Fix (Most Common Solution)
- Use -- to separate refs from files
- Specify full ref path
Seeing "fatal: ambiguous argument"? This error can be frustrating, but it's usually fixable. It typically affects your development workflow or system. Below you'll find clear, step-by-step solutions to resolve this issue.
What This Error Means
The argument could be a branch, tag, commit, or file.
Frequently documented in developer and vendor support forums.
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Common Causes
- Same name for branch and file
- Missing -- separator
- Unclear reference
How to Fix
- Use -- to separate refs from files
- Specify full ref path
- Rename conflicting branch or file
Last reviewed: March 2026 How we review solutions
Optional follow-up
Some users ask whether saving fixes for recurring errors would be useful when the same issue appears again.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does -- mean?
It separates refs from file paths.
How to specify branch?
Use refs/heads/branchname for clarity.
Related Resources
Also Known As
- Git error
- Version control error
- Git command failure
- Repository error
Common Search Variations
- "git push rejected fix"
- "git merge conflict how to resolve"
- "git error what to do"
- "git command failed"
- "fix git repository error"
- "git authentication failed solution"
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