Fixing 'git rebase index.lock file exists' Error - Fix Git 'fatal: refusing to merge unrelated histories' on GitHub-Windows 11 Defender Real-Time Protection Won't Stay On

Updated 2026-07-28 06:25:03cloud-software
Fixing 'git rebase index.lock file exists' Error - Fix Git 'fatal: refusing to merge unrelated histories' on GitHub-Windows 11 Defender Real-Time Protection Won't Stay On
Before changing system settings, save your work and note the exact error text so you can compare results after each step.

Extra verification checklist

  • Restart the affected app after changing permissions or configuration files.
  • Test the same workflow in a clean browser profile or a temporary user account.
  • Compare the result on another network if the error may be connection related.