Visual Studio cannot delete local branch

Question

Visual Studio 2022 (17.5.3) won't let me delete a local branch because it still thinks it is checked out in a local reposititory. However that repository does not exist anymore, the whole folder is gone. I deleted it and didn't think about the branch. The repository also doesn't show up in Visual Studio anymore. Except for the error message.

How can I fix this? Is there any other hidden or temp directory where Visual Studio stores the info? Is there any command I can run?

I tried various, even recreated the folder but ovbiously git fails because it doesnt detect any repository anymore, since the files are gone...

In the directory of the solution file there is a hidden .vs folder you can try to delete and see if that resolves it. — Timothy G., Apr 11 '23 at 18:18
@VonC sry I didnt mean to, that was just my saussage fingers on my smartphone. — CSharpie, Apr 17 '23 at 08:25

VonC · Accepted Answer · 2023-04-17T08:29:41.637

1

If the error message is similar to this one (error: Cannot delete branch 'aBranchName' checked out at 'C:/path/to/repo'), then you need to check your git status first (outside of Visual Studio itself, in the local repository root folder)

You will see if you are in a worktree (as in "multiple working directories"), in which case you need to remove said working tree (git worktree remove).

The OP CSharpie confirms in the comments:

It was a worktree I deleted, not the repository, so I could use your command to delete that worktree in the actual repo.

edited Apr 17 '23 at 08:29

answered Apr 16 '23 at 00:17

VonC

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"in the local repository root folder", well this is difficult, since i deleted that folder. – CSharpie Apr 17 '23 at 08:25
ah wait a second, i get what you are saying now – CSharpie Apr 17 '23 at 08:26
That did the trick. It was a worktree i deleted, not the repository, so i could use your command to delete that worktree in the actual repo. – CSharpie Apr 17 '23 at 08:27

Visual Studio cannot delete local branch

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