Unable to run git on Mac OS Big Sur

Question

Unable to run git on new MacBook running Big Sur

When I try to run git, I receive the following error:

xcrun: error: unable to load libxcrun (dlopen(/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/lib/libxcrun.dylib, 0x0005): could not use '/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/lib/libxcrun.dylib' because it is not a compatible arch).

I followed the method of forcing which architecture loads, suggested here, but still, I’m experiencing the error.

Now, after running that suggestion I am seeing the following error:

manpath: error: unable to load libxcrun (dlopen(/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/lib/libxcrun.dylib, 5): no suitable image found. Did find: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/lib/libxcrun.dylib: mach-o, but wrong architecture /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/lib/libxcrun.dylib: mach-o, but wrong architecture).

I also installed homebrew prior to that error message, although I don’t see how that would be related.

I really lack experience interacting with Xcode. I feel like on my previous Mac I was just able to get up and running, without any of this hassle, but it’s been awhile so perhaps I'm forgetting.

How can I identify if Xcode and Command Line Tools are properly installed? If they are not, what is the recommended way to add them?

I tried installing homebrew to see if I could use it as a work-around, and tried using it to install git, but received the following error:

'brew install git
Updating Homebrew...
Error: Cannot install in Homebrew on ARM processor in Intel default prefix (/usr/local)!
Please create a new installation in /opt/homebrew using one of the "Alternative Installs" from: https://docs.brew.sh/Installation

I am on a MacBook Pro with the new M1 chip- could that be related?

Suborder

Try installing command line tools again? xcode-select --install? – Tankard

thanks, I went ahead and tried this and received the following message: 'xcode-select: error: command line tools are already installed, use "Software Update" to install updates' -so it appears xcode is installed but maybe not behaving? do you happen to know the command for software update? – Suborder

however, if I run softwareupdate --list no available updates are returned :-/ – Suborder

Try removing Xcode and reinstalling it from the App Store? – Tankard

Answer 1

ok will boy do I feel stupid- the problem was I did not have xcode installed. I became confused because the error messages seemed to indicated xcode was already present and there was an xcode directory on my machine- perhaps that directory comes preinstalled in preparation for xcode?

At any rate, I solved my issue by downloading and installing xcode from the app store. Maybe this will help somebody else out

Suborder

The error message is very misleading: "error: command line tools are already installed, use "Software Update" to install updates" – Cohobate

Answer 2

Try with the following command:

sudo rm -r /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

It will remove the command line tool and then immediately install the software automatically.

Emyle

Answer 3

Wow. Now I also feel really stupid. I also didn't have xcode installed, but I definitely thought I did because I had it installed on my old machine. Apparently when transferring everything to the new machine, xcode didn't come along for the ride.

Spunky

Answer 4

1. First, install or update the xcode in App Store
2. Then, run sudo xcodebuild -license in terminal
3. And type agree at the end of Xcode license agreements

Now can use the git

Smoker

This worked for me after an update to XCode 13 from 12.x. – Copyholder

Answer 5

sudo xcode-select -switch /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer  

Mac M1 chip use this command to change to the old xcode can help!

Libelous

Answer 6

You can also get git from https://brew.sh/, which I believe is fairly common!

With the edit, I don't have an Apple Silicon chip to test with, but the brew docs say it should be installed to /opt/homebrew (literally untar in that path)

If this is a fresh install and not upgrading an existing one, however, you may not be able to get away from having Xcode as you'll almost-certainly require some compiler or component for a few packages. Existing installs should move the path or delete and rebuild (collect all your top-level packages with brew leaves && brew list -1 --cask)

brew install git

You may also need/want to provide a resolution for this warning if it appears

hint: Pulling without specifying how to reconcile divergent branches is
hint: discouraged. You can squelch this message by running one of the following
hint: commands sometime before your next pull:
hint:
hint:   git config pull.rebase false  # merge (the default strategy)
hint:   git config pull.rebase true   # rebase
hint:   git config pull.ff only>    # fast-forward only
hint:
hint: You can replace "git config" with "git config --global" to set a default
hint: preference for all repositories. You can also pass --rebase, --no-rebase,
hint: or --ff-only on the command line to override the configured default per
hint: invocation.

pull.ff only is a reasonable choice, as it'll it will only do a fast-forward if you have a local conflict when attempting to pull (modified local and remote)

git config --global pull.ff only

Luminesce

Answer 7

Ok, i was having this same issue with my MAC as well. I was able to resolve it by running the code below. Works like magic.

sudo xcode-select -switch /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

Wilen

Answer 8

I had this issue. Updating my mac to Big Sur 11.3 fixed it.

Conni