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nabbisen
nabbisen

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Git: Rename default branch from master to main on existing repositories

Rename: master -> main

I renamed default branch of all my existing repositories in Github and Gitea several months ago.
Here shows how I did it.

Tutorial

1. Rename brnach

Clone repository.



$ git clone <repo>
$ cd <repo>


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Rename it.



$ git branch -m master main


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Well, git branch's official documentation says:

With a -m or -M option, will be renamed to . If had a corresponding reflog, it is renamed to match , and a reflog entry is created to remember the branch renaming. If exists, -M must be used to force the rename to happen.

Optionally, it's able to check the result with git status.



$ git status
On branch main
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/master'.

nothing to commit, working tree clean


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Push the change.



$ git push -u origin main


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Done.

2. Configure hosting service

With Web browser, visit github or gitea, and show settings page.
Then, switch "Default branch" from master to main.

default branch is main now

3. Delete old branch

Delete old branch if it has become unnecessary.



$ git push origin --delete master


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