How to Delete a Git Branch Locally and on GitHub

Branches pile up. Once a feature is merged, its branch is clutter. Deleting one is quick — but there are two places a branch lives, and deleting it in one doesn't delete it in the other. (Git branches explained)

Delete a local branch

git branch -d feature/login

-d only works if the branch has been merged; otherwise Git stops you:

error: the branch 'feature/login' is not fully merged.

That's a safety check. If you're sure you don't want the unmerged work, force it with a capital D:

git branch -D feature/login

You can't delete the branch you're currently on — switch first:

git switch main
git branch -d feature/login

Delete a remote branch (on GitHub)

git push origin --delete feature/login

Or on GitHub: open the Branches page and click the bin icon, or click Delete branch on a merged pull request. You can also turn on Automatically delete head branches in the repository's settings, so merged PR branches disappear on their own.

Clean up stale remote-tracking branches

After a branch is deleted on GitHub, your computer still remembers it as origin/feature/login until you tell it to forget:

git fetch --prune

Make that automatic:

git config --global fetch.prune true

(git fetch vs pull)

Delete all merged branches at once

List branches already merged into main:

git branch --merged main

Delete them all except main (macOS/Linux/Git Bash):

git branch --merged main | grep -v -E '^\*|^\s*main$' | xargs git branch -d

Look at the list before deleting, especially if you keep long-lived branches like develop.

Branches merged with squash merge don't show as merged (the commits differ), so they won't appear in --merged. Delete those individually with -D once you've confirmed the PR merged. (How to squash commits)

Recover a branch you deleted by mistake

The commits aren't gone straight away. Find the last commit of the branch:

git reflog

Look for the last entry on that branch, then recreate it:

git branch feature/login a1b2c3d

When you delete a branch, Git also prints its last commit: Deleted branch feature/login (was a1b2c3d). — that hash is all you need. (How to undo almost anything in Git)

If it was deleted on GitHub after a PR, the PR page has a Restore branch button.

Quick reference

Task	Command
Delete merged local branch	`git branch -d name`
Force-delete local branch	`git branch -D name`
Delete remote branch	`git push origin --delete name`
Forget deleted remote branches	`git fetch --prune`
List merged branches	`git branch --merged main`
Restore a deleted branch	`git branch name <commit>`

EasySpawn keeps your repository on a persistent server where Claude Code can tidy up merged branches for you — and the reflog is still there if it tidies too much. See how it works or join the waitlist.

How to Delete a Git Branch (Local and Remote)