[git] How to fully delete a git repository created with init?

I created a git repository with git init. I'd like to delete it entirely and init a new one.

after cloning the repo

cd /repo folder/

to go to the file directory then

ls -a

to see all files hidden and unhidden

.git .. .gitignore .etc

if you like you can check the repo origin

git remote -v

now delete .git which contains everything about git

rm -rf .git

after deleting, you would discover that there is no git linked check remote again

git remote -v

now you can init your repository with

git init
git add README.md
git commit -m "first commit"
git remote add origin https://github.com/Leonuch/flex.git
git push -u origin main

I tried:

rm -rf .git and also

Git keeps all of its files in the .git directory. Just remove that one and init again.

Neither worked for me. Here's what did:

• Delete all files except for .git
• git add . -A
• git commit -m "deleted entire project"
• git push

Then create / restore the project from backup:

• Create new project files (or copy paste a backup)
• git add . -A
• git commit -m "recreated project"
• git push

No worries, Agreed with the above answers:

But for Private project, please follow the steps for Gitlab:

1. Login to your account
2. Click on Settings -> General
3. Select your Repository (that you wants to delete)
4. Click on 'Advanced' on the bottom-most
5. Click on 'Remove Project'

6. You will be asked to type your project name

   This action can lead to data loss. To prevent accidental actions we ask you to confirm your intention. Please type 'sample_project' to proceed or close this modal to cancel.

7. Now your project is deleted successfully.

In windows:

1. Press Start Button
2. Search Resource Monitor
3. Under CPU Tab -> type .git -> right click rundll32 and end process

Now you can delete .git folder

If you want to delete all .git folders in a project use the following command:

find . -type f | grep -i "\.git" | xargs rm

This will also delete all the .git folders and .gitignore files from all subfolders

You can create an alias for it. I am using ZSH shell with Oh-my-Zsh and here is an handy alias:

# delete and re-init git
# usage: just type 'gdelinit' in a local repository
alias gdelinit="trash .git && git init"

I am using Trash to trash the .git folder since using rm is really dangerous:

trash .git

Then I am re-initializing the git repo:

git init

Windows cmd prompt: (You could try the below command directly in windows cmd if you are not comfortable with grep, rm -rf, find, xargs etc., commands in git bash )

Delete .git recursively inside the project folder by the following command in cmd:

FOR /F "tokens=*" %G IN ('DIR /B /AD /S .git') DO RMDIR /S /Q "%G"

Alternative to killing TortoiseGit:

• Open the TortoiseGit-Settings (right click to any folder, TortoiseGit → Settings)
• Go to the Icon Overlays option.
• Change the Status Cache from Default to None
• Now you can delete the directory (either with Windows Explorer or rmdir /S /Q)
• Set back the Status Cache from None to Default and you should be fine again...

Where $GIT_DIR is the path to the folder to be searched (the git repo path), execute the following in terminal.

find $GIT_DIR -name *.git* -ok rm -Rf {} \;

This will recursively search for any directories or files containing ".git" in the file/directory name within the specified Git directory. This will include .git/ and .gitignore files and any other .git-like assets. The command is interactive and will ask before removing. To proceed with the deletion, simply enter y, then Enter.

you can use :

git remote remove origin

to remove a linked repo then:

git remote add origin

to add new one

To fully delete the .git repository in your computer (in Windows 8 and above):

1. The .git repository is normally hidden in windows
2. So you need to mark the "hidden items" to show the hidden folders
3. At the top site of you directory you find "view" option
4. Inside "view" option you find "hidden items" and mark it
5. Then you see the .git repository then you can delete it

true,like mine was stored in USERS,so had to open USERS go to View on you upper left find Options,open it and edit folders'view options in view still to display hidden files/folders,all your folders will be displayed and you can deleted the repo manually,remember to hide the files/folders once done with the delete.

If you really want to remove all of the repository, leaving only the working directory then it should be as simple as this.

rm -rf .git

The usual provisos about rm -rf apply. Make sure you have an up to date backup and are absolutely sure that you're in the right place before running the command. etc., etc.