How to Delete a Git Branch Both Locally and Remotely

Quick Answer: To delete a Git branch locally, run git branch -d branch-name (use -D to force). To delete it on the remote, run git push origin --delete branch-name. You can’t delete the branch you’re currently on — switch to another branch first.

Delete a Local Branch

git branch -d branch-name    # safe delete (only if merged)
git branch -D branch-name    # force delete (even if not merged)

• -d (lowercase) is the safe option — Git refuses if the branch has unmerged changes.
• -D (uppercase) force-deletes — use it when you’re sure you don’t need the work.

Delete a Remote Branch

git push origin --delete branch-name

# Older equivalent syntax:
git push origin :branch-name

This removes the branch from the remote (e.g., GitHub, GitLab). origin is the default remote name — change it if yours is different.

Delete a Branch Both Locally and Remotely

Deleting a local branch does not remove it from the remote, and vice versa. To fully remove a branch, run both commands:

git branch -d branch-name              # delete locally
git push origin --delete branch-name   # delete on the remote

Clean Up Stale Remote-Tracking Branches

After a branch is deleted on the remote, your local copy may still show a stale origin/branch-name reference. Prune them:

git fetch --prune
# or
git remote prune origin

Delete Multiple Branches at Once

# Delete several local branches
git branch -d feature-1 feature-2 feature-3

# Delete all local branches already merged into main
git branch --merged main | grep -v '\*\|main' | xargs -r git branch -d

Verify the Branch Is Gone

git branch          # list local branches
git branch -r       # list remote-tracking branches
git branch -a       # list all branches

See our full guides on listing remote branches and the complete Git commands reference.

Common Errors & Fixes

• “error: The branch ‘x’ is not fully merged.” — Git is protecting unmerged work. Merge it first, or force-delete with git branch -D x if you’re sure.
• “error: Cannot delete branch ‘x’ checked out at …” — you’re on that branch. Switch away first: git switch main (or git checkout main), then delete.
• “remote ref does not exist” — the remote branch is already gone; run git fetch --prune to sync.
• Deleted the wrong branch? — recover it if you know the commit: git checkout -b branch-name <commit-hash> (find it with git reflog).

Command Cheat Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I delete a local Git branch?

Run git branch -d branch-name for a safe delete, or git branch -D branch-name to force-delete an unmerged branch.

How do I delete a remote Git branch?

Run git push origin --delete branch-name. This removes the branch from the remote repository (e.g., GitHub or GitLab).

What is the difference between git branch -d and -D?

-d only deletes a branch that has been merged (safe). -D force-deletes a branch even if it has unmerged commits.

Why can’t I delete my current branch?

Git won’t delete the branch you’re checked out on. Switch to another branch first with git switch main, then delete it.