git untracked files - how to ignore

Question

When I run git status, I see the "Untracked files" section has many files (some with a "." extension.)

I don't think I have to do anything, but it doesnt look good to see these files whenever I run git status. Is there any way to not to see these files?

possible duplicate of [.gitignore - ignore any 'bin' directory](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1470572/gitignore-ignore-any-bin-directory) — manojlds, Jun 09 '11 at 15:44
More likely a duplicate of http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11542687/git-how-to-ignore-all-present-untracked-files — Diego, Feb 28 '13 at 17:40
Possible duplicate of [git: How to ignore all present untracked files?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11542687/git-how-to-ignore-all-present-untracked-files) — The Bearded Llama, Aug 18 '17 at 08:56

score 21 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 09 '11 at 15:39

21

Files that are "yours", files that no one else sees, write in .git/info/exclude.

For files that everyone else sees, write them down in .gitignore at the project top directory and then add and commit the .gitignore file.

For example, your .gitignore might look like so:

*.o
.*.sw[op]
*~

answered Jun 09 '11 at 15:39

wilhelmtell

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What do you mean by "files that no one else sees"? – freitass Jun 09 '11 at 15:44
Files that are local to your setup; for instance you may have a utility script in your working tree that is not tracked by git and only you can see. – sam hocevar Jun 09 '11 at 15:47

score 16 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 09 '11 at 15:35

16

You need to create one or several .gitignore files. They can be stored in git itself, or just kept local.

answered Jun 09 '11 at 15:35

sam hocevar

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sorry, how do i do this? I don't have access to the main git account. – JDesigns Jun 09 '11 at 15:49
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@Jay Just do it. You don't have to have access to the "main git account", whatever that is. Just create a file called ".gitignore" and start putting things in it. – user229044 Jun 09 '11 at 16:20

rambo · Answer 3 · 2011-06-09T15:49:51.253

14

You can make git ignore all files that match a regular expression (like all files *.ext) by adding the line *.ext in file .git/info/exclude.

Added Abe Voelker's comment bellow to improve the answer:

Note that this approach is local to your repository. If you ever clone it (e.g. share it with others), your ignore settings will not be pulled in.

If you need to share the ignore settings, you should put it in .gitignore files

edited Jun 09 '11 at 15:49

answered Jun 09 '11 at 15:38

rambo

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gitignore lines are not regular expressions, but rather more like shell globs. – Kevin Smyth Dec 28 '11 at 16:13

score 10 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 09 '11 at 15:38

10

To ignore, use .gitignore, as Sam Hocevar said.

To delete, you'll probably want to do a git clean, which will clean up any files that aren't tracked by git. You might need to use the -f and -d switches if you've got directories which aren't tracked.

Be careful with git clean, it will delete things you haven't added to git yet!

answered Jun 09 '11 at 15:38

James Gregory

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beware, git clean will remove the files from hdd! but its working. :) – csomakk Mar 12 '13 at 14:49

score 7 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 16 '14 at 07:30

7

If you want to do this globally all the time do

git config status.showuntrackedfiles no

answered Feb 16 '14 at 07:30

eludom

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This will only change for the current repository. If you want to do this globally as for all the repository on your machine for this user, use --global after config. For all user, use --system. – Mister Someone May 03 '23 at 11:42

git untracked files - how to ignore

5 Answers5