Github Desktop Error Launching Git

[JAFDevs]

Select Topic Area

Question

Body

"error launching git: The system cannot find the path specified."

I suddenly got this error and GitHub Desktop stopped working. I tried uninstalling, reinstalling, and nothing worked. I am still met with the same error.

Kindly let me know what I can do, I am unable to use the Github Desktop app to push, I am only able to do so via GitBash.

[Jouberly]

Answer:

Hi, @JAFDevs!

The error "Git cannot start: The system cannot find the path specified" typically occurs due to issues with your Git installation or configuration. Here’s what you can do to fix it:

---

1. Check Git Installation Path

It’s possible that GitHub Desktop is not able to locate the Git executable. To resolve this:

1. Open Git Bash (since it works for you).

2. Run the following command to verify the Git installation path:

   which git

3. This will show you the path where Git is installed (e.g., C:/Program Files/Git/bin/git.exe).

4. Go to GitHub Desktop settings and make sure it’s pointing to the correct Git installation path. You can do this by:

   • Going to File > Options (or GitHub Desktop > Preferences on macOS).
   • Under the Git tab, ensure that the path to Git matches the one from the which git command.

---

2. Reinstall Git

If the path is correct but the problem persists, you may need to reinstall Git properly:

• Uninstall Git via the Control Panel.
• Download the latest Git installer from https://git-scm.com/downloads.
• During installation, ensure the option "Use Git from the Windows Command Prompt" is selected.

After reinstalling Git, restart GitHub Desktop and check if the issue is resolved.

---

3. Check GitHub Desktop Settings

Sometimes, GitHub Desktop may need a fresh configuration:

• Go to File > Options and under the Git tab, you can try to change the Git Executable Path to the location where Git is installed (use the path you found earlier).

---

4. Check for Windows Environment Variables

The issue might also be related to the Windows environment variables. Ensure that the Git installation path is added to your PATH variable:

1. Right-click on This PC and select Properties.
2. Click on Advanced system settings and go to Environment Variables.
3. Under System variables, find and select the Path variable, then click Edit.
4. Make sure that the path to Git (e.g., C:/Program Files/Git/bin) is included. If not, add it.

---

5. Restart Your Computer

After performing the steps above, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.

---

Additional Notes:

If GitHub Desktop is still giving issues after following these steps, you can continue using Git via Git Bash for now as a workaround. However, it’s important to fix the GitHub Desktop setup for a smoother workflow.

Let me know how it goes!

[JAFDevs]

Hey There, appreciate your response.
I followed all these steps. Still no luck, same error.
Any further steps?