# Migrating large files to GitHub
Jan 8, 2019 2 minute readGitHub does not track files larger than 100MB. I hit this limit during a recent repository migration. git lsf and bfg helped me push everything. These are the steps I took to overcome this limitation.
Prerequisites
- Create a backup of your repository.
- Install the Git Large File Storage Tool.
- Get the BFG Repo Cleaner.
- Make sure the repository is in a clean state.
Solution
Step 1: Try to push.
git push origin master
GH001 Error
Pushing to https://github.com/tddapps/my_secret_app.git
POST git-receive-pack (chunked)
remote: error: GH001: Large files detected. You may want to try Git Large File Storage - https://git-lfs.github.com.
remote: error: Trace: 354c0f098fda496abeb40f7f6472b655
remote: error: See http://git.io/iEPt8g for more information.
remote: error: File Assets/Dependencies/libsmbclient.a is 114.65 MB; this exceeds GitHub's file size limit of 100.00 MB
To https://github.com/tddapps/my_secret_app.git
! [remote rejected] change-photo-source-buttons -> change-photo-source-buttons (pre-receive hook declined)
! [remote rejected] critical-section -> critical-section (pre-receive hook declined)
! [remote rejected] master -> master (pre-receive hook declined)
! [remote rejected] version_1_0 -> version_1_0 (pre-receive hook declined)
! [remote rejected] version_1_1 -> version_1_1 (pre-receive hook declined)
error: failed to push some refs to 'https://github.com/tddapps/my_secret_app.git'
Completed with errors, see above
Write down the problematic filename. libsmbclient.a in this case.
Step 2: Remove the file from your history. Don’t worry, it will stay in your working directory.
java -jar ~/Downloads/bfg-1.13.0.jar --delete-files libsmbclient.a --no-blob-protection
Step 3: Unstage the file.
git reset
Step 4: Track the file as a Large Object.
git lfs track "libsmbclient.a"
Step 5: Stage, commit and push.
git add -A && \
git commit -m "track large objects properly" && \
git push origin master
Success!
Pushing to https://github.com/tddapps/my_secret_app.git
POST git-receive-pack (786 bytes)
To https://github.com/tddapps/my_secret_app.git
= [up to date] version_1_0 -> version_1_0
= [up to date] version_1_1 -> version_1_1
8ce3374..e7fb4b8 master -> master
updating local tracking ref 'refs/remotes/github/master'
Uploading LFS objects: 100% (1/1), 120 MB | 1.4 MB/s, done
Completed successfully
Got other errors?
Repeat the steps if the error persists with other files.