How do you delete a file from an old commit in a GitHub repository?

Asked Aug 21 '18 at 20:23

Active Aug 21 '18 at 20:33

Viewed 24 times

I am logged in to GitHub and browsed a repository at a certain point in history (a few commits/pushes ago). I found a file in this old commit/push that I need to delete, but when I click on the file the delete button is disabled and displays "You must be on a branch to make or propose changes to this file" when I hover over it.

I have researched this message, but still don't understand 1) what it means and 2) how to delete this file.

How would you delete this file?

edited Aug 21 '18 at 20:33

asked Aug 21 '18 at 20:23

user7560542

2

Has the file already been deleted in a more recent commit? – Devon Bessemer Aug 21 '18 at 20:27
@Devon yes, it has. edit: the file is still in the repo though- I can download it, view data in Raw, etc. – user7560542 Aug 21 '18 at 20:27
2

Yes, that's kind of the point of a VCS, being able to see file history as they are changed. – Devon Bessemer Aug 21 '18 at 20:30
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Why do you need to delete it? Just to "tidy up", because it contains sensitive information, because it's too big, something else? – ChrisGPT was on strike Aug 21 '18 at 20:36
@Chris yeah it's too big and has been part of some recent commits. I don't mind deleting the files individually, in each commit, if needed. Just not certain how to do this. – user7560542 Aug 21 '18 at 20:37
@Chris, I was hoping to learn how to accomplish this using the GitHub web UI. As stated in the post, the delete button is visible, but is disabled. – user7560542 Aug 21 '18 at 20:39
There is no mechanism for doing this in GitHub's web UI. – ChrisGPT was on strike Aug 21 '18 at 20:40

How do you delete a file from an old commit in a GitHub repository?

0 Answers0