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Git LFS

By · Reviewed & last updated · Part of Git Tutorial

Git LFS stores large files outside the main object database, keeping repos fast for code and version-controlling assets without bloating clones.

Git LFS - hands on

EXAMPLE
# Install
# macOS:   brew install git-lfs
# Ubuntu:  apt install git-lfs
# Windows: comes with Git for Windows

# Per-user one-time
git lfs install

# In your repo, track patterns
cd my-app
git lfs track '*.psd'
git lfs track '*.mp4'
git lfs track 'assets/raw/*.png'

# This writes/updates .gitattributes - commit it
git add .gitattributes
git commit -m 'Track psd, mp4, raw png with LFS'

# Add a large file like normal
cp ~/Downloads/hero.psd assets/
git add assets/hero.psd
git commit -m 'Add hero artwork'
git push

# Clone gets pointers + downloads on checkout
git clone https://example.com/my-app
# git smudge filter pulls the actual file from LFS storage on checkout

# Check what's tracked
git lfs ls-files

# Move history to LFS retroactively (DANGEROUS - rewrites history)
git lfs migrate import --include='*.psd' --everything
# Force push, coordinate with all clones, delete and re-clone forks

# Pruning local cache
git lfs prune                       # remove old, unreferenced LFS objects

# CI considerations
# - Cache .git/lfs between builds
# - Use partial clones if you only need code:
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout REPO
git checkout HEAD                     # pulls only needed blobs

# Storage and bandwidth
# - GitHub LFS quota is small by default; check your plan
# - Self-hosted: gitea, gitlab, or LFS test server

Why it matters

Use LFS for things git was not designed for - PSDs, video, ML weights, raw images. Resist tracking your entire assets/ tree; only the binaries that grow large or change often. Migrating history retroactively is painful, so do it deliberately and announce to your team.

Tip: Tweak the snippet with Try it Yourself », then sit the quiz at the bottom of the page.

Example

Example
git lfs install
git lfs track '*.psd'
# Large file pointers in repo, real data on the LFS server.
Try it Yourself »

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