KB: Git Error "Failed to write chunk header" when saving to workspace

Created: November 26, 2025 | Updated: November 26, 2025

A365

Users may encounter the error “Git error: failed to write chunk header: The connection with the server terminated abnormally” when committing a project to the workspace, resulting in failure to save changes. This issue is typically caused by either a hidden Git repository in a parent directory or a misconfigured WinHTTP proxy. To resolve it, users should inspect their folder structure for conflicting Git repositories and reset any outdated proxy settings. A fresh checkout of the project into a clean directory can also serve as a workaround.

Solution Details

Error Message and Impact

When committing a project to the workspace, the following error may appear:

This prevents changes from being saved to the workspace.

Root Cause of the Error

This issue typically occurs due to one of the following reasons:

A top-level .git folder exists in a parent directory outside the actual project directory.
An outdated or hidden WinHTTP proxy configuration is interfering with Git operations.

Available Solutions

WinHTTP Reset
Git Folder on Parent Directory
Fresh Checkout

WinHTTP Reset

This error may be triggered by a hidden or outdated proxy configuration in the system's WinHTTP settings. To check and reset the proxy:

Open Command Prompt with administrator rights.
Type netsh and press Enter.
At the netsh> prompt, type winhttp show proxy to view the current proxy configuration.
If a proxy is listed, type netsh winhttp reset proxy to clear it.

Git Folder on Parent Directory

Check whether any .git folders exist outside the project directory. For example, if the project is located at: C:\Documents\Altium\Project_A

The .git folder should only exist inside Project_A. If a .git folder is present in Documents, Altium, or directly in C:\, Git may treat it as a parent repository, causing conflicts.

Fresh Checkout

If the issue persists, perform a fresh checkout of the project:

Go to File » Open Project.
Choose Workspace.
Select the project and click the dropdown next to the Open button.
Choose a custom checkout path and select Create a second copy.
Copy modified files from the original directory to the new checkout folder, replacing existing files.
Open the project from the new folder in Altium Designer.
Commit and push the files one by one.

Refer to Opening Projects in Altium Designer for more details.

Enable Auto Reload

Ensure that Auto reload is enabled for modified files:

Go to Preferences » System » General.
Enable Reload Documents Modified Outside of Altium Designer.

IT Team Help

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, contact your IT team to investigate potential proxy or antivirus interference.