git cannot open the .gitconfig file although it exists

I am using git inside visual studio. Unfortunately config --global information cannot be accessed or edited. It seems that git is using the string '%USERPROFILE%/.gitconfig' and failing where if it where to use '%USERPROFILE%\.gitconfig' it would succeed as the file exists and is healthy.

How do I modify my setup so that git can find this .gitconfig file.

The following command line data conforms the basic nature of the fault

C:\Users\xxxxxx\source\repos\yyyyyy>git --versiongit version 2.37.1.windows.1C:\Users\xxxxxx\source\repos\yyyyyy>git.exe config --global --listfatal: unable to read config file '%USERPROFILE%/.gitconfig': No such file or directoryC:\Users\xxxxxx\source\repos\yyyyyy>dir "%USERPROFILE%/.gitconfig" Volume in drive C is OS Volume Serial Number is 0AA3-F60F Directory of C:\Users\xxxxxxFile Not FoundC:\Users\xxxxxx\source\repos\yyyyyy>dir "%USERPROFILE%\.gitconfig" Volume in drive C is OS Volume Serial Number is 0AA3-F60F Directory of C:\Users\xxxxxx04/10/2021  22:11               501 .gitconfig               1 File(s)            501 bytes               0 Dir(s)  1,070,514,884,608 bytes free