Error when configuring CD in Deployment Center of Web App ("Expected https or SSH format...")

Question

Error when configuring CD in Deployment Center of Web App ("Expected https or SSH format...")

Magnus 20

I have a Dotnetcore - 8.0 web app running that I've been building from an Azure DevOps repo through the CD option in the Deployment Center. It is in a production slot and there is a warning that this is not recommended but it has nevertheless been working well. That is, until yesterday when the following error started consistently showing up, regardless of which branch of the repo I choose to base it on:

Failed to set up deployment: Repository 'UpdateSiteSourceControl' operation failed with Invalid RepoUrl format. Expected https or SSH format..

Just so there's absolutely no misunderstanding, this configuration lives here:

Web App -> Deployment -> Deployment Center -> Settings -> Source -> Azure Repos

And then when I choose whatever branch of the repo, which has worked every time before, it returns the error above. Even for branches that haven't been changed at all for a long time.

If anyone has any insight, I'd be very grateful.

Magnus 20 Reputation points

2025-11-24T15:20:15.3166667+00:00

To clarify, I've checked the payload of the query that is run when the "Save" button is clicked (using the the Network tab in the browser DevTools) and the repoUrl does indeed start with "https://" so it seems that this error is either on Azure's side or - if it's on my side - at the very least it's misleading.
Brian Choo 0 Reputation points

2026-02-16T04:24:40.4533333+00:00

Hi Magnus, did you managed to find a solution? I am also facing this now which was working last week for me.

Answer recommended by moderator

0 additional answers

Your answer

Magnus 20 Reputation points

2025-11-24T15:20:15.3166667+00:00

To clarify, I've checked the payload of the query that is run when the "Save" button is clicked (using the the Network tab in the browser DevTools) and the repoUrl does indeed start with "https://" so it seems that this error is either on Azure's side or - if it's on my side - at the very least it's misleading.
Brian Choo 0 Reputation points

2026-02-16T04:24:40.4533333+00:00

Hi Magnus, did you managed to find a solution? I am also facing this now which was working last week for me.

Answer 1

Alex Burlachenko 20,665 MVP Volunteer Moderator

hi,

this error usually appears when the repo url stored in deployment center becomes invalid or corrupted even if u are selecting azure repos from the ui. The message expected https or ssh format means the backend api is receiving a repo url that is empty malformed or not in a recognised format like https://dev.azure.com/... or ******@ssh.dev.azure.com:... and app service refuses to save it.

this was working before and suddenly fails without branch changes it is often caused by a change in the devops project permissions token scope or service connection rather than the branch itself.

go to deployment center and completely disconnect the source control instead of just changing the branch, save it, reconnect fresh to azure repos and reauthorise access when prompted so the repo url and token are regenerated. is the devops repo was renamed moved to another project or the organisation url changed coz even subtle changes like switching from visualstudio.com to dev.azure.com format can break the stored repo url. if the issue persists try configuring cd using a service connection through azure devops pipeline instead of deployment center because deployment center sometimes keeps stale repo metadata in the site config.

this is almost always a repo url metadata issue or expired authorisation rather than a dotnet or slot problem.

rgds,

Alex

Brian Choo 5 Reputation points

2026-02-16T11:44:51.38+00:00

Thank you for your reply Alex.

I am quite confused with this because I used a testing email, signed up for azure - fresh account. Created an Azure Devops Repo, created a web app, tried the deployment but the same error comes up.

Im not sure if there is a permission I need to enable
Alex Burlachenko 20,665 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-02-18T14:40:56.9666667+00:00

hi Brian,

in Azure DevOps, is your organisation is linked to the same Microsoft Entra ID tenant as your Web App. Goto DevOps > Organisation settings > Microsoft entra it and see is its connected, check if you’re a Project Administrator or have at least Contribute and Read permissions on the repo.

In the Web App > Deployment Center, fully disconnect the source control (don’t just change the branch), save, then reconnect and reauthorise when prompted.

If it still fails on a fresh setup, this is most likely a deployment center backend issue rather than a missing permission. in that case, I’d recommend switching to an Azure DevOps pipeline with a service connection to the Web App instead of using deployment center.

Rgds,

Alex

Share via

Error when configuring CD in Deployment Center of Web App ("Expected https or SSH format...")

0 additional answers

Your answer