I created a git repository with git init
. I'd like to delete it entirely and init a new one.
14 Answers
Git keeps all of its files in the .git
directory. Just remove that one and init again.
If you can't find it, it's because it is hidden.
In Windows 7, you need to go to your folder, click on Organize on the top left, then click on Folder and search options, then click on the View tab and click on the Show hidden files, folders and drives radio button.
On a Mac OS:
Open a Terminal (via Spotlight: press CMD + SPACE, type
terminal
and press Enter) and run:defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1 && killall Finder
Note: The keyboard shortcut to show hidden files in Finder is CMD + SHIFT + . so it is no longer necessary to modify the finder config this way
You could also type
cd
(the space is important), drag and drop your git repo folder from Finder to the terminal window, press return, then typerm -fr .git
, then return again.
On Ubuntu, use shortcut Ctrl + H.
If you really want to remove all of the repository, leaving only the working directory then it should be as simple as this.
rm -rf .git
The usual provisos about rm -rf
apply. Make sure you have an up to date backup and are absolutely sure that you're in the right place before running the command. etc., etc.
Alternative to killing TortoiseGit:
- Open the TortoiseGit-Settings (right click to any folder, TortoiseGit → Settings)
- Go to the Icon Overlays option.
- Change the Status Cache from Default to None
- Now you can delete the directory (either with Windows Explorer or
rmdir /S /Q
) - Set back the Status Cache from None to Default and you should be fine again...
after cloning the repo
cd /repo folder/
to go to the file directory then
ls -a
to see all files hidden and unhidden
.git .. .gitignore .etc
if you like you can check the repo origin
git remote -v
now delete .git which contains everything about git
rm -rf .git
after deleting, you would discover that there is no git linked check remote again
git remote -v
now you can init your repository with
git init
git add README.md
git commit -m "first commit"
git remote add origin https://github.com/Leonuch/flex.git
git push -u origin main
Where $GIT_DIR is the path to the folder to be searched (the git repo path), execute the following in terminal.
find $GIT_DIR -name *.git* -ok rm -Rf {} \;
This will recursively search for any directories or files containing ".git" in the file/directory name within the specified Git directory. This will include .git/ and .gitignore files and any other .git-like assets. The command is interactive and will ask before removing. To proceed with the deletion, simply enter y, then Enter.
You can create an alias for it. I am using ZSH shell with Oh-my-Zsh and here is an handy alias:
# delete and re-init git
# usage: just type 'gdelinit' in a local repository
alias gdelinit="trash .git && git init"
I am using Trash to trash the .git
folder since using rm
is really dangerous:
trash .git
Then I am re-initializing the git repo:
git init
To fully delete the .git
repository in your computer (in Windows 8 and above):
- The
.git
repository is normally hidden in windows - So you need to mark the "hidden items" to show the hidden folders
- At the top site of you directory you find "view" option
- Inside "view" option you find "hidden items" and mark it
- Then you see the
.git
repository then you can delete it
I tried:
rm -rf .git
and also
Git keeps all of its files in the .git directory. Just remove that one and init again.
Neither worked for me. Here's what did:
- Delete all files except for
.git
- git add . -A
- git commit -m "deleted entire project"
- git push
Then create / restore the project from backup:
- Create new project files (or copy paste a backup)
- git add . -A
- git commit -m "recreated project"
- git push
No worries, Agreed with the above answers:
But for Private project, please follow the steps for Gitlab:
- Login to your account
- Click on Settings -> General
- Select your Repository (that you wants to delete)
- Click on 'Advanced' on the bottom-most
- Click on 'Remove Project'
You will be asked to type your project name
This action can lead to data loss. To prevent accidental actions we ask you to confirm your intention. Please type 'sample_project' to proceed or close this modal to cancel.
Now your project is deleted successfully.
Windows cmd prompt: (You could try the below command directly in windows cmd if you are not comfortable with grep, rm -rf, find, xargs etc., commands in git bash )
Delete .git recursively inside the project folder by the following command in cmd:
FOR /F "tokens=*" %G IN ('DIR /B /AD /S .git') DO RMDIR /S /Q "%G"
true,like mine was stored in USERS,so had to open USERS go to View on you upper left find Options,open it and edit folders'view options in view still to display hidden files/folders,all your folders will be displayed and you can deleted the repo manually,remember to hide the files/folders once done with the delete.