How to resolve the Git error "error merging is not possible because you have unmerged files"

When using Git, you may encounter the error message: error: merging is not possible because you have unmerged files. This error occurs when you attempt to merge branches that have unresolved conflicts from previous merge attempts. This guide provides a detailed explanation of why this error occurs and how to resolve it effectively.

Understanding the error

The error error: merging is not possible because you have unmerged files indicates that there are conflicting changes between branches that need to be resolved before you can proceed with the merge. Git halts the merge process to prevent conflicting changes from being inadvertently committed to the repository.

Steps to resolve the error

Step 1: Identify unmerged files

First, you need to identify the files that have conflicts. You can use the git status command to list these files:

git status

This command will show you a list of unmerged paths and the files that need your attention.

Step 2: Resolve conflicts manually

To resolve conflicts, you need to open each conflicting file and manually edit the sections where Git has identified conflicts. Git marks the conflicted areas with <<<<<<<, =======, and >>>>>>> lines. Here’s an example of what a conflict might look like:

<<<<<<< HEAD
Current changes in your branch
=======
Incoming changes from the branch you are merging
>>>>>>> branch-name

You need to decide which changes to keep, edit the file accordingly, and remove the conflict markers (<<<<<<<, =======, and >>>>>>>).

Step 3: Mark conflicts as resolved

After manually resolving the conflicts in a file, you need to mark the file as resolved using git add:

git add <file_path>

Replace <file_path> with the path to the file you resolved. Repeat this step for each conflicted file.

Step 4: Commit the resolved changes

Once all conflicts are resolved and marked, you need to commit the changes. This can be done with the following commands:

git commit

Git will prompt you to enter a commit message. You can provide a message that indicates the resolution of merge conflicts, such as "Resolved merge conflicts".

Step 5: Complete the merge

After committing the resolved changes, you can proceed with the merge:

git merge <branch_name>

Replace <branch_name> with the name of the branch you were attempting to merge.

Example scenario

Let’s walk through a complete example to illustrate these steps.

1. You try to merge a branch called feature-branch into main:

   Terminal

   git checkout main
   git merge feature-branch
   
   

2. Git reports an error due to unmerged files. You check the status:

   Terminal

   git status
   
   

   The output shows:

   Terminal

   On branch main
   You have unmerged paths.
   (fix conflicts and run "git commit")
   
   Unmerged paths:
     (use "git add <file>..." to mark resolution)
       both modified:   file1.txt
       both modified:   file2.txt
   
   

3. Open file1.txt and file2.txt, manually resolve conflicts, and remove conflict markers. For more detailed instructions, see this guide on resolving Git merge conflicts.

4. Mark the files as resolved:

   Terminal

   git add file1.txt
   git add file2.txt
   
   

5. Commit the resolved changes:

   Terminal

   git commit -m "Resolved merge conflicts in file1.txt and file2.txt"
   
   

6. Complete the merge:

   Terminal

   git merge feature-branch
   
   

If after following these steps you are still unable to resolve the Git error error: merging is not possible because you have unmerged files, see the official Git documentation.