How to Fix: SSL error when connecting to git from Mac OS X 10.11.3 (El Capitan)

When attempting to clone, pull, or fetch from a Git repository via HTTPS on Mac OS X 10.11.3 (El Capitan), users encounter an error characterized by 'error: RPC failed; result=56, HTTP code = 200' and 'fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly'. This issue persists even after increasing the log level, revealing an SSL-related problem.

This frustrating error prevents users from successfully interacting with Git repositories, hindering productivity and workflow. In this guide, we will explore potential causes and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve this issue.

🔍 Why This Happens

• The primary reason for this error lies in the way SSL certificates are handled by OpenSSL on El Capitan. By default, OpenSSL uses a deprecated version of SSL that is incompatible with modern Git repositories. This incompatibility leads to the 'RPC failed' and 'remote end hung up unexpectedly' errors.
• An alternative cause could be related to the configuration of the Git server or the specific repository being accessed. In some cases, the Git server may not be configured correctly, resulting in an invalid SSL connection.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve the SSL error when connecting to Git repositories via HTTPS on Mac OS X 10.11.3 (El Capitan), try enabling OpenSSL's secure protocol by updating to a newer version using Homebrew. If this fails, attempt configuring Git to use a different SSL certificate by utilizing an alternative Git client or the `--insecure` option.