Git is a powerful version control system, and sometimes you may need to rename a branch—either to correct a typo, reflect a new naming convention, or simply organize your branches better.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to rename a Git branch both locally and on remote repositories like GitHub or GitLab.
🔄 Rename a Branch Locally
✅ Rename the Current Branch
If you’re on the branch you want to rename, use:
git branch -m new-branch-name
✅ Rename a Different Branch
If you’re not on the branch you want to rename:
git branch -m old-branch-name new-branch-name
-mstands for “move,” which is Git’s way of renaming.
☁️ Push the Renamed Branch to Remote
After renaming locally, push the new branch to your remote:
git push origin new-branch-name
Then, delete the old branch from the remote:
git push origin --delete old-branch-name
🔁 Update Remote Tracking Branch
If you renamed a branch and want to continue tracking it remotely, set the upstream:
git push --set-upstream origin new-branch-name
🧠 Summary
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Rename current branch | git branch -m new-name |
| Rename another branch | git branch -m old-name new-name |
| Push new branch to remote | git push origin new-name |
| Delete old remote branch | git push origin --delete old-name |
| Set upstream for new branch | git push --set-upstream origin new-name |
🚀 Final Thoughts
Renaming branches is straightforward with Git, but remember: if the branch has been pushed and used by others, communicate the change to your team to avoid confusion. Always verify that your new branch name follows any existing naming conventions (like feature/, bugfix/, etc.).
