LFS smudge error 🌿 Git

Error downloading object: x: Smudge error / This repository is over its data quota

Git LFS couldn’t download a large file — missing LFS install, auth problems, or the LFS bandwidth/storage quota is exhausted.

Seen on: Git

Meaning

LFS pointers are replaced by real files on checkout (“smudge”). Without git-lfs or with quota exceeded, checkout fails.

Common causes

  • git-lfs not installed
  • LFS bandwidth/storage quota exceeded
  • Auth failure to the LFS endpoint

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Install LFS: git lfs install
  2. Skip downloads temporarily: GIT_LFS_SKIP_SMUDGE=1 git clone …
  3. Buy more LFS data or reduce usage

Detailed fix by platform

Git

  1. GIT_LFS_SKIP_SMUDGE=1 git clone git@github.com:owner/repo.git

How to diagnose

  1. LFS — git lfs env works?
  2. Quota — Over limit?

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