Cheat Sheets · Git Cheat Sheet · Git Rename Remote Branch — Complete 3-Step Process

Git Rename Remote Branch — Complete 3-Step Process

git branch -m <old> <new>

1. Rename the branch locally

git push origin -u <new>

2. Push new branch and reset upstream tracking

git push origin --delete <old>

3. Delete old branch on remote repository

Complete 3-step remote rename workflow

Command	Step Description
`git branch -m <old> <new>`	`1. Rename the branch locally`
`git push origin -u <new>`	`2. Push new branch and reset upstream tracking`
`git push origin --delete <old>`	`3. Delete old branch on remote repository`

Git has no direct "remote rename" command. The standard workflow is pushing the new branch name, setting upstream tracking, and deleting the old remote branch.

Related Git recipes

Undo Last Commit — 3 Safe Ways Discard Local Changes — Safely and Completely Delete a Branch — Local and Remote Stash — Park Changes Without Committing Amend the Last Commit Undo a Pushed Commit — The Safe Way (git revert) Rename Local Branch — Safely & Quickly Cherry Pick — Apply a Specific Commit Elsewhere Squash Last N Commits — Combine Multiple Commits Sync Fork with Upstream — Step-by-Step Delete Remote Tag — Local and Remote Change Commit Author — Email & Name Unstage File — Remove from Staging Area Log Graph — Visual Commit History in Terminal Clean Untracked Files — Remove Clutter Safely Switch Branch — Modern Branch Navigation Create Branch from Commit — Branch Off History Stash Untracked Files (-u and -a Flags) Force Pull — Overwrite Local Changes with Remote Resolve Merge Conflict — Complete Workflow Show Commit — Inspect Changes in a Commit Tag a Release — Lightweight & Annotated Tags

FAQ

Will this close existing Pull Requests?
Yes. If a PR was opened against the old branch name, renaming or deleting it closes or breaks the PR. Merge or update PR target first.

What should teammates do after a remote rename?
Collaborators should run: git fetch --prune and git checkout -b origin/.

Can I rename the default branch (main/master)?
Yes, but change the default branch setting in your GitHub/GitLab repository settings first before deleting the old one.

Stop memorizing — build it interactively

Generate remote branch commands in the Git Builder

Full reference: Git Cheat Sheet