In Git, working with branches is essential for managing features, bug fixes, and collaboration. One of the most common tasks is switching back to the main development branch—often called master or main. This guide walks you through how to move to the master branch safely and efficiently.
🧭 What Is the master Branch?
The master branch (or sometimes main) is typically the default branch in a Git repository. It’s often used to store production-ready or stable code.
💡 Note: Many modern GitHub repositories now use
maininstead ofmasteras the default branch name. Always double-check which one your repo uses.
✅ Step-by-Step: Move to the master Branch
🔄 1. Check Existing Branches
Run the following to see all local branches:
git branch
And to see remote branches:
git branch -r
This helps confirm whether master exists.
🔁 2. Switch to the master Branch
If the master branch exists locally:
git checkout master
If you’re using Git 2.23+ (recommended), you can also use:
git switch master
🌐 3. If master Doesn’t Exist Locally
You can create a local copy of the remote master branch:
git checkout -b master origin/master
Or with the newer switch command:
git switch -c master origin/master
This creates a local branch that tracks the remote master.
🔄 4. Pull the Latest Changes
Once you’re on master, update it with the latest code:
git pull origin master
🧠 Bonus: Check Your Current Branch
Use this at any time to confirm which branch you’re on:
git branch
Your current branch will have an asterisk (*) next to it.
🔚 Summary
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| List all local branches | git branch |
| List all remote branches | git branch -r |
Switch to master (Git < 2.23) | git checkout master |
Switch to master (Git ≥ 2.23) | git switch master |
Pull latest master updates | git pull origin master |
⚠️ Final Tips
- Always commit or stash your changes before switching branches to avoid conflicts.
- Confirm whether your repo uses
masterormainby checkinggit branch -a.
