git remote add origin Explained (and 'remote origin already exists')

You've built something on your computer, it's a Git repository, and now you want it on GitHub. The command that connects the two is git remote add origin.

What's a remote?

A remote is a named link to another copy of your repository — usually on GitHub, GitLab or a server. Your local repository can have several. (Git and GitHub for beginners)

origin is just the conventional name for the main one. There's nothing special about the word; git clone uses it by default, so everyone does.

Connecting a local project to a new GitHub repo

1. Create an empty repository on GitHub. Don't tick "Add a README" — an empty repo avoids a conflict on your first push. (Refusing to merge unrelated histories)

2. In your project folder, make sure it's a Git repo with at least one commit:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "First commit"

3. Add the remote:

git remote add origin https://github.com/you/my-app.git
# or with SSH:
git remote add origin git@github.com:you/my-app.git

4. Push, and set up tracking:

git branch -M main
git push -u origin main

git branch -M main renames your branch to main (some setups start with master).
-u sets upstream tracking, so from now on plain git push and git pull know where to go.

Done — refresh GitHub and your code is there.

Viewing your remotes

git remote -v

origin  git@github.com:you/my-app.git (fetch)
origin  git@github.com:you/my-app.git (push)

"error: remote origin already exists"

You (or a tool, or git clone) already added an origin. Either change its URL:

git remote set-url origin git@github.com:you/my-app.git

or remove it and add it again:

git remote remove origin
git remote add origin git@github.com:you/my-app.git

Other errors on the first push

src refspec main does not match any — there's no commit yet, or your branch isn't called main. (Fix it)
Permission denied (publickey) — your SSH key isn't set up with GitHub. (Fix it)
Updates were rejected because the remote contains work — the GitHub repo isn't empty (it has a README or licence). (Fix it)
Authentication failed over HTTPS — GitHub doesn't accept your account password for Git. Log in through the browser prompt, gh auth login, or use a personal access token, or switch to SSH. (SSH keys explained)
fatal: not a git repository — you're in the wrong folder, or haven't run git init. (Fix it)

Switching from HTTPS to SSH (or back)

git remote set-url origin git@github.com:you/my-app.git

Same command for moving a repository to a new location — say, after renaming it or moving it to an organisation.

More than one remote

Common setups:

origin + upstream — your fork and the original project. (Fork vs clone)
origin + a server — push to GitHub and to a deploy server.

git remote add upstream https://github.com/team/app.git
git fetch upstream

The summary

git remote add origin <url>     # connect
git push -u origin main         # first push, with tracking
git remote -v                   # check
git remote set-url origin <url> # change

EasySpawn connects your server to your Git repository so pushes deploy and your project's history lives with the running app. See how it works or join the waitlist.

git remote add origin: Connect Your Project to GitHub