RuntimeError: Couldn't clone Stable Diffusion. Command: "git" clone --config core.filemode=false "https://github.com/Stability-AI/stablediffusion.git" "C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\repositories\stable-diffusion-stability-ai" Error code: 128

[foxov27]

Hello everyone, I don't know how to solve this problem. When I run webui-user.bat, it gives me the following error:

venv "C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\venv\Scripts\Python.exe"
Python 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr 5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)]
Version: v1.10.1
Commit hash: 82a973c
Cloning Stable Diffusion into C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\repositories\stable-diffusion-stability-ai...
Cloning into 'C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\repositories\stable-diffusion-stability-ai'...
info: please complete authentication in your browser...
remote: Repository not found.
fatal: repository 'https://github.com/Stability-AI/stablediffusion.git/' not found
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\launch.py", line 48, in
main()
File "C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\launch.py", line 39, in main
prepare_environment()
File "C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\modules\launch_utils.py", line 412, in prepare_environment
git_clone(stable_diffusion_repo, repo_dir('stable-diffusion-stability-ai'), "Stable Diffusion", stable_diffusion_commit_hash)
File "C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\modules\launch_utils.py", line 192, in git_clone
run(f'"{git}" clone --config core.filemode=false "{url}" "{dir}"', f"Cloning {name} into {dir}...", f"Couldn't clone {name}", live=True)
File "C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\modules\launch_utils.py", line 116, in run
raise RuntimeError("\n".join(error_bits))
RuntimeError: Couldn't clone Stable Diffusion.
Command: "git" clone --config core.filemode=false "https://github.com/Stability-AI/stablediffusion.git" "C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\repositories\stable-diffusion-stability-ai"
Error code: 128

can someone help?

[chromesun]

Because the repo was removed by Stability in Dec 2025.
See here for workarounds:
#17212

[aasimansari1]

This error (exit code 128) means git failed to clone the repository. Most common causes and fixes:

1. SSL/TLS certificate error (most common)

git config --global http.sslVerify false

Then re-run the SD WebUI installer.

2. Firewall / proxy blocking GitHub

If you are behind a corporate network or VPN:

git config --global http.proxy http://your-proxy:port
git config --global https.proxy https://your-proxy:port

3. Long path issue on Windows

Windows has a 260-character path limit by default. Enable long paths:

# Run as Administrator
git config --global core.longpaths true

Also enable in Windows: Settings → System → For Developers → Enable Win32 long paths.

4. Manual fix — clone it yourself first

cd C:\SD\stable-diffusion-webui\repositories
git clone https://github.com/Stability-AI/stablediffusion.git stable-diffusion-stability-ai

Then re-launch webui-user.bat — it will skip the already-cloned repo.

5. Use a mirror if GitHub is slow in your region

git clone https://hub.fastgit.org/Stability-AI/stablediffusion.git stable-diffusion-stability-ai

Let me know which one fixes it!

[AIArtStudio9]

so we have a procedure for OS X; we have also done a successful install under Windows 10. Will post soon on our site. We are doing a rework based on what i fall the repositories go away or archived behind password. And most of that has been solved too.

yes the repository is a big key into getting it to install correctly, because that what changed last year when they removed the repo from it. There are so far 2 ways to resolve this that we have. Look for more about this soon.

We are considering rewriting the code as to minimize the number of commands to run.