This directory does not appear to be a git repository

Question

I have factory reset my computer, and before that, I had my github repositories synced locally to remotely. Now I am trying to add a local repository and it keeps showing: This directory does not appear to be a git repository. All repositories did this. I pasted in the .gitattributes file in, they are all in a file github, and creating a new local repository worked.

Here is what it looks like after I created a new repository for one of the repositories online that I had, and tried linking them with the URL:

It did not show the URL option. Publishing doesn't work because it already exists on GitHub.

Answer 1

Instead of adding an existing folder, you should clone your repo to a new one, and start working from said new clone.

See GitHub Desktop cloning a repository.

But if you want to use your existing folder as a local repo of an existing remote repo, follow desktop/desktop issue 2883

• Drag an ordinary folder into the app (or use Add Local Repository and choose the folder)
• You'll get a message saying "This directory does not appear to be a Git repository. Would you like to create a repository here instead?" and the "Add Repository" folder is disabled
• Click "create a repository here"
• Select the "Repository -> Repository Settings... -> Remote" option. Enter the URL of your remote repo.