How to Remove a File from Git Repo [3 Effective Methods]

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Last updated: June 8, 2024

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To remove a file from Git repo, you can try follow these steps:

  1. Open your command-line interface.
  2. Navigate to the root directory of your Git repository.
  3. Run git rm <file_path>, replacing <file_path> with the file you want to delete.
  4. Confirm the deletion with git status to see the changes.
  5. Commit the changes with git commit -m "Delete <file_name>", replacing <file_name> with the name of the deleted file.

Read the article below to learn different ways to delete files on git and common errors that can occur during the process.

Managing files in your Git repository can become overwhelming as your project grows. Have you ever found yourself buried under unnecessary files that clutter your workspace and slow down your repository? Fortunately, there are efficient methods to delete these files and maintain a clean project environment.

In this article, I’ll guide you through step-by-step processes for Git delete files, ensuring you keep your repository organized and efficient. You’ll learn how to use various Git commands and tools, along with best practices to prevent issues and enhance your workflow. Let’s explore and tidy up that repository!

Why Delete Files on Git

Deleting files on Git is important for several reasons:

  • Over time, projects accumulate files that are no longer needed. Deleting these files keeps the repository clean and organized.
  • Large files or a high number of files can make your repository bigger and slower. Removing unneeded files helps reduce the repository size and improves performance.
  • When you delete outdated or irrelevant files, you make it easier for others to navigate the project. This enhances clarity and helps maintain focus on important files and code.
  • Sometimes, sensitive information like passwords or API keys can be accidentally committed. Deleting these files from the repository history protects your project’s security.
  • Regularly cleaning up your repository by removing old files helps maintain good version control practices. It ensures that the repository remains efficient and manageable over time.

How to Remove a File from Git Repo

To remove a file from Git repo, open your command-line interface, navigate to your Git repository’s root directory, and use the git rm <file_path> command, replacing <file_path> with the file you want to delete. Verify the changes with git status and commit them using git commit -m "Delete <file_name>", replacing <file_name> with the name of the deleted file.

Keeping reading for the step-by-step method to delete files on Git:

1. Using the Git rm Command

The git rm command is the standard method for deleting files on Git. It allows you to remove files from your repository and update the staging area. By using git rm, you can maintain a clean and accurate version history for your project. To git delete file using the git rm command, follow these steps:

  1. Open your command-line interface.
opening terminal 29
  1. Navigate to the root directory of your Git repository.
navigating to root directory of git repository
  1. Run the following command to remove file from Git: 
git rm file_path

Replace file_path with the path to the file you want to delete.

deleting file from git repository
  1. Confirm the deletion by running the command to see the changes:
git status
  1. The command will show the changes made to the repository.
verifying that the file is deleted or not
  1. Commit the changes using the command:
git commit -m "Delete file_name"

Replace file_name with the name of the deleted file.

commiting changes made to the repository

2. Git Filter-Branch Command

The git filter-branch command allows you to delete files from the entire commit history. It is a powerful but potentially dangerous method as it modifies the commit history. This method is used when you need to permanently remove files from the entire repository history, such as eliminating sensitive information or large files. Follow these steps to git delete file:

  1. Back up your repository before performing filter-branch operations.
  2. Open your Terminal and navigate to the root directory of your Git repository.
  3. Run the following command to delete a file from the entire commit history: 
git filter-branch --force --index-filter 'git rm --cached --ignore-unmatch file_path' --prune-empty --tag-name-filter cat -- --all

Replace file_path with the path to the file you want to delete.

removing specific file from the entire commit history
  1. Git will apply the filter-branch operation, removing the specified file from the entire commit history.

3. Leveraging Git Extensions and GUI Clients:

Git extensions and GUI clients, such as GitHub Desktop, SourceTree, and GitKraken, provide user-friendly interfaces for deleting files. These tools offer intuitive visualizations and streamlined workflows, making file deletion more accessible. Follow these steps to Git remove files:

  1. Go to official website of GitKraken ( https://www.gitkraken.com/download ) and download the deb file for debian
downloading gitkraken deb file
  1. Go to the directory containing the downloaded deb file.
navigating to downloads directory 1
  1. Install GitKraken on your computer by running the command:
sudo dpkg -i gitkraken-package-name.deb

Replace gitkraken-package-name.deb with the actual name of the package file you downloaded.

installing gitkraken
  1. Now launch the application by running the command:
gitkraken
  1. The command will open gitkraken.
launching gitkraken
  1. Now click on the Let’s Open a Repository button.
opening repository in gitkraken
  1. Enter the required user detail of your git account. Then click on Use these for Git commits button to proceed further.
entering required details 1
  1. Open the GitKraken repository associated with the file.
click open repo button
  1. Locate the file you want to delete in the file tree.
choosing repository and opening it
  1. Check the View all files box to view all files of the repository then right-click on the file and select Delete.
deleting file using gitkraken
  1. Verify the deletion in the Unstaged Files section and add a commit message explaining the deletion. Now click on the Commit button to commit the deletion.
verifying and commiting deletion

How to Delete Files Recursively on Git

Recursive deletion is useful when you need to remove an entire directory and its contents from the repository. This is particularly handy for cleaning up old or unused directories in a project.

  1. Run the following command for recursive deletion:
git rm -r old_directory

This command will remove the directory old_directory and all its contents recursively, staging the deletions for the next commit.

deleing a git repository directory recursively

How to Delete Files from Just Git Repository

Sometimes, you might want to remove files from the Git repository but keep them in your working directory. The –cached option allows you to do this, ensuring the files are not tracked by Git anymore.

  1. To remove a single file from the repository but not from the local system, use:
git rm --cached example.txt

This command will remove example.txt from the repository but keep it in your working directory.

removing a single file from git repository
  1. To remove a directory and its contents from the repository but not locally, use:
git rm --cached -r my_directory

This command will remove the directory my_directory and its contents from the repository but keep them in your working directory.

removing a directory from git repository

Best Practices for Deleting Files in Git

Deleting files in Git is a common task, but it’s important to do it correctly to avoid issues. Following best practices helps maintain your repository’s integrity and ensures smooth collaboration. Here are five best practices for deleting files in Git.

  • 🗂️ Plan and Communicate: Before deleting files, plan the changes and communicate with your team. Ensure everyone is aware of the deletions to prevent disruptions. This helps maintain team synchronization and avoids confusion.
  • 🔄 Use Version Control Wisely: Always commit your changes before deleting files. This ensures you can revert to a previous state if something goes wrong. Keeping a clear commit history is crucial for tracking changes.
  • 📋 Backup Important Files: Make backups of important files before deleting them from the repository. This is especially important for critical files that might be needed in the future. Use external storage or cloud services for backups.
  • 🛠️ Use .gitignore for Temporary Files: Instead of deleting temporary files, use a .gitignore file to prevent them from being tracked. This keeps your repository clean and avoids unnecessary commits. Update the .gitignore file as needed.
  • 🧹 Clean Up History Periodically: Regularly clean up your repository’s history by removing large or unnecessary files. Use tools like BFG Repo-Cleaner or git filter-branch to manage history and reduce repository size. This keeps your repository efficient.

Git Delete File: Final Thoughts

In this article, I walked you through the step-by-step methods to delete files on Git, including using the git rm command, the git filter-branch command, and leveraging Git extensions and GUI clients like GitKraken. By following these methods and best practices, you can efficiently manage your Git repository and keep it clean and organized.

If you’re eager to expand your Git knowledge further, I recommend checking out additional articles:

  • Learn how to install and set up Git on a Debian system with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide, ensuring you have the right environment for managing repositories.
  • Master the process of staging all files in your repository with one command, streamlining your workflow and enhancing your efficiency with Git.
  • Enhance your file management skills by using the ls command to sort files by date and time, making it easier to locate and organize project files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a deleted file in Git?

Yes, Git provides options to recover deleted files if they haven’t been purged from the commit history. You can use the command git checkout commit_hash — file_path to restore the deleted file from a specific commit. This command retrieves the file content from the specified commit and places it in your working directory. It’s important to note that the commit_hash represents the commit ID where the file was still present, and file_path represents the path to the deleted file within the repository. By using this command, you can retrieve deleted files and restore them to your Git repository.

What happens if I delete a file without committing the deletion?

If you delete a file without committing the deletion, Git considers it a local modification. The file will appear in the Changes not staged for commit section when running git status. Git recognizes the deletion as a modification to the working directory but doesn’t reflect in the commit history. To remove the file completely from your repository, you need to commit the deletion using the command git commit -m “Delete file_name”. This creates a commit that records the deletion, and the file is permanently removed from the repository. Remember to provide an appropriate commit message, replacing file_name with the actual name of the deleted file.

What happens if I delete a file that is currently being used by other branches?

If a file is deleted from one branch but still exists in other branches, it can lead to conflicts when merging or switching branches. Git will consider the deletion as a change in one branch and the preservation of the file in other branches as conflicting modifications. When attempting to merge or switch branches, Git will prompt you to resolve the conflict manually. To handle this situation, ensure that all branches referencing the file are updated accordingly. You can either delete the file from all branches or employ proper branch management techniques such as rebasing or merging to synchronize the changes.

Ojash

Author

Ojash is a skilled Linux expert and tech writer with over a decade of experience. He has extensive knowledge of Linux's file system, command-line interface, and software installations. Ojash is also an expert in shell scripting and automation, with experience in Bash, Python, and Perl. He has published numerous articles on Linux in various online publications, making him a valuable resource for both seasoned Linux users and beginners. Ojash is also an active member of the Linux community and participates in Linux forums.

Akshat

Reviewer

Akshat is a software engineer, product designer and the co-founder of Scrutify. He's an experienced Linux professional and the senior editor of this blog. He is also an open-source contributor to many projects on Github and has written several technical guides on Linux. Apart from that, he’s also actively sharing his ideas and tutorials on Medium and Attirer. As the editor of this blog, Akshat brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to provide readers with valuable insights and advice on a wide range of Linux-related topics.

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