How to fully delete a git repository created with init?

Question

I created a git repository with git init. I'd like to delete it entirely and init a new one.

score 2063 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 04 '19 at 13:49

2063

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 type rm -fr .git, then return again.
On Ubuntu, use shortcut Ctrl + H.

edited Sep 04 '19 at 13:49

double-beep

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answered Jul 31 '09 at 16:08

Kristof Provost

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Note: After you have removed the hidden .git file, you should enter `defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO && killall Finder` to hide the hidden files once again. – CodeBiker May 29 '16 at 01:12
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To show/hide files on macOS (in Finder): `cmd + shift + .` This was a top result on Google for me so people will probably find it a lot even though it's old. – ludvigeriksson May 08 '17 at 12:54
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@Van those are bash flags (options), and they can go in whatever order you'd like :) – De Novo Mar 04 '18 at 20:00
That solution was not enough when I added an iOS project as submodule. It appeared as a red folder with "iOSapp @ 1d12345" that couldn't be accesses nor could I push new changes (it said always it matches master already). I used the answer with "find . -type f | grep -i "\.git" | xargs rm" that removed whatever created the problem and now it works. – André Dec 10 '20 at 07:32
Hi I just do it accidentally and all my work vanishes. Is there a way to undo this? – Abdullah Saud Apr 27 '21 at 11:27
Cant find this mentioned but if you want to remove the git repository from in windows 10 cmd then use ```rmdir /s .git``` when inside the directory that contains the git repository. – eHarazi Jun 14 '22 at 16:25

score 1022 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 31 '09 at 16:08

1022

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.

answered Jul 31 '09 at 16:08

CB Bailey

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And you can use this on Windows too, in git shell – TheTechGuy Nov 14 '18 at 15:37
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It repeatedly says it can't: rm: `cannot remove 'Rift/.git/objects/pack': Directory not empty`, and yes I ran rm -rf – Vendetta Nov 16 '20 at 03:23
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Side note, -rf is two options joined together: -r for recursive removal, -f to force the action – nCardot Apr 21 '21 at 15:39
Hi I just do it accidentally and all my work vanishes. Is there a way to undo this? – Abdullah Saud Apr 27 '21 at 11:27
@Abdullah Saud No way you could undo it when running that command. The warning should be put earlier. – MaXi32 Jan 14 '23 at 04:49
For Windows PowerShell users, run `Remove-Item ".git" -Recurse -Force` [doc](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/remove-item?view=powershell-7.3) – Max Ma Jun 14 '23 at 21:34

ejazz · Answer 3 · 2014-02-06T15:15:21.020

70

If you want to delete all .git folders in a project use the following command:

find . -type f | grep -i "\.git" | xargs rm

This will also delete all the .git folders and .gitignore files from all subfolders

edited Feb 06 '14 at 15:15

answered Apr 16 '12 at 09:25

ejazz

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This deleted my french.gite.txt – Anonymous Coward Jan 31 '19 at 13:36
Had issues with syncing an iOS project as submodule. Just removing .git directory didn't work somehow, this solved it though. Probably some more files hidden in subfolders? – André Dec 10 '20 at 07:29

score 31 · Answer 4 · edited Nov 24 '20 at 09:52

31

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

edited Nov 24 '20 at 09:52

Anatoly

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answered Oct 13 '19 at 21:10

leouonline

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This is a duplicate of [an existing answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/1213449/68587). All the other steps add nothing to the answer. – John Kugelman Apr 04 '20 at 00:49

score 16 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 10 '13 at 18:50

16

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...

edited Mar 10 '13 at 18:50

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answered Nov 30 '10 at 09:51

eckes

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score 11 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 14 '12 at 17:06

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.

score 5 · Answer 7 · edited Aug 07 '17 at 16:50

5

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

edited Aug 07 '17 at 16:50

Paul Roub

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answered Aug 07 '17 at 16:45

squal

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score 4 · Answer 8 · answered Feb 04 '15 at 18:24

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

score 4 · Answer 9 · answered Jan 28 '21 at 09:39

4

you can use :

git remote remove origin

to remove a linked repo then:

git remote add origin

to add new one

answered Jan 28 '21 at 09:39

MonirRouissi

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this will not remove the repo from local computer. – samkart Feb 09 '21 at 11:29

score 3 · Answer 10 · edited Dec 02 '15 at 14:37

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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

edited Dec 02 '15 at 14:37

spongebob

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answered Dec 02 '15 at 08:21

Ahmad Awais

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score 2 · Answer 11 · answered Aug 09 '19 at 06:28

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.

score 0 · Answer 12 · edited Nov 08 '17 at 05:14

0

In windows:

Press Start Button
Search Resource Monitor
Under CPU Tab -> type .git -> right click rundll32 and end process

Now you can delete .git folder

edited Nov 08 '17 at 05:14

Stephen Rauch

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answered Nov 08 '17 at 04:51

sahil khurana

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SridharKritha · Answer 13 · 2018-01-29T16:49:36.880

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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"

edited Jan 29 '18 at 16:49

answered Jan 29 '18 at 16:38

SridharKritha

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score 0 · Answer 14 · answered Jul 26 '23 at 01:05

0

rm -rf .git worked for me I did a ls -a to see all hidden files/folders first.

answered Jul 26 '23 at 01:05

Gayathri Raghuram

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score -2 · Answer 15 · answered Jan 25 '19 at 01:12

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.

How to fully delete a git repository created with init?

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