---
name: "git-annex-reinit"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "git-annex"
version: "10.20261026-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/git-annex-reinit"
---

# git-annex-reinit(1)

initialize repository, reusing old UUID

## NAME

git-annex-reinit - initialize repository, reusing old UUID

## SYNOPSIS

git annex reinit **uuid\|description**

## DESCRIPTION

Normally, initializing a repository generates a new, unique identifier (UUID) for that repository. Occasionally it may be useful to reuse a UUID -- for example, if a repository got deleted, and you're setting it back up.

Use this with caution; it can be confusing to have two existing repositories with the same UUID.

Make sure you run **git annex fsck** after changing the UUID of a repository to make sure location tracking information is recorded correctly.

Like **git annex init**, this attempts to enable any special remotes that are configured with autoenable=true.

## OPTIONS

- **--json**

  -

  Enable JSON output. This is intended to be parsed by programs that use git-annex.

-

  - **--json-error-messages**

  Messages that would normally be output to standard error are included in the JSON instead.

-

  - Also the [git-annex-common-options(1)](/git-annex-common-options/1.md) can be used.

  ## SEE ALSO

[git-annex(1)](/git-annex/1.md)

[git-annex-init(1)](/git-annex-init/1.md)

[git-annex-fsck(1)](/git-annex-fsck/1.md)

## AUTHOR

Joey Hess \<id@joeyh.name\>