[git] How do I rename both a Git local and remote branch name?

I have four branches like master -> origin/regacy, FeatureA -> origin/FeatureA. As you can see, I typed the wrong name.

So I want to rename a remote branch name (origin/regacy ? origin/legacy or origin/master)

I try the command below:

git remote rename regacy legacy

But Git console returned an error message to me.

 error : Could not rename config section 'remote.regacy' to 'remote.legacy'

How can I solve this problem?

If you have named a branch incorrectly AND pushed this to the remote repository follow these steps to rename that branch (based on this article):

1. Rename your local branch:

   • If you are on the branch you want to rename:
     git branch -m new-name

   • If you are on a different branch:
     git branch -m old-name new-name

2. Delete the old-name remote branch and push the new-name local branch:
   git push origin :old-name new-name

3. Reset the upstream branch for the new-name local branch:
   Switch to the branch and then:
   git push origin -u new-name

There is no direct method,

1. Rename Local Branch,

   My current branch is master

   git branch -m master_renamed #master_renamed is new name of master

2. Delete remote branch,

   git push origin --delete master #origin is remote_name

3. Push renamed branch into remote,

   git push origin master_renamed

That's it...

It seems that there is a direct way:

If you really just want to rename branches remotely (without renaming any local branches at the same time) you can do this with a single command like

git push <remote> <remote>/<old_name>:refs/heads/<new_name> :<old_name>

Renaming branches remotely in Git

See the original answer for more detail.

I use these git alias and it pretty much does the job automatic:

git config --global alias.move '!git checkout master; git branch -m $1 $2; git status; git push --delete origin $1; git status; git push -u origin $2; git branch -a; exit;'

Usage: git move FROM_BRANCH TO_BRANCH

It works if you have the default names like master, origin etc. You can modify as you wish but it gives you the idea.

Attaching a Simple Snippet for renaming your current branch (local and on origin):

git branch -m <oldBranchName> <newBranchName>
git push origin :<oldBranchName>
git push --set-upstream origin <newBranchName>

Explanation from git docs:

git branch -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.

The special refspec : (or +: to allow non-fast-forward updates) directs Git to push "matching" branches: for every branch that exists on the local side, the remote side is updated if a branch of the same name already exists on the remote side.

--set-upstream Set up 's tracking information so is considered 's upstream branch. If no is specified, then it defaults to the current branch.

I had to do the following task to rename local and remote branch:

# Rename the local branch to the new name
git branch -m <old_name> <new_name>

#  Delete the old remote branch
git push origin --delete <old_name>

# push to new remote branch - creates new remote branch
git push origin <new_name>

# set new remote branch as default remote branch for local branch
git branch --set-upstream-to=origin/<new_name> <new_name>

1. Rename your local branch. If you are on the branch you want to rename:

   git branch -m new-name

If you are on a different branch:

git branch -m old-name new-name

2. Delete the old-name remote branch and push the new-name local branch.

   git push origin :old-name new-name

3. Reset the upstream branch for the new-name local branch. Switch to the branch and then:

   git push origin -u new-name

All set!

It can also be done the following way.

At first rename local branch, then remote branch.

Renaming the local branch:

If logged in another branch,

git branch -m old_branch new_branch 

If logged in the same branch,

git branch -m new_branch

Renaming remote branch:

git push origin :old_branch    // Delete the remote branch

git push --set-upstream origin new_branch   // Create a new remote branch

• Rename your local branch.

If you are on the branch you want to rename:

git branch -m new-name

if you stay on a different branch at the current time:

git branch -m old-name new-name

• Delete the old-name remote branch and push the new-name local branch.

Stay on the target branch and:

git push origin :old-name new-name

• Reset the upstream branch for the new-name local branch.

Switch to the target branch and then:

git push origin -u new-name

If you have already pushed the wrong name to remote, do the following:

1. Switch to the local branch you want to rename

   git checkout <old_name>

2. Rename the local branch

   git branch -m <new_name>

3. Push the <new_name> local branch and reset the upstream branch

   git push origin -u <new_name>

4. Delete the <old_name> remote branch

   git push origin --delete <old_name>

This was based on this article.

This can be done even without renaming the local branch in three simple steps:

1. Go to your repository in GitHub
2. Create a new branch from the old branch which you want to rename
3. Delete the old branch