How to Safely Delete GitHub Commit History and Keep Your Code

So, you’ve been working on a project for a while, and the commit history is looking like the plot of a complex thriller: long, tangled, and sometimes filled with the past you'd rather not revisit. Whether it’s for a fresh start, cleanup, or because you’re about to make your code public, erasing Git commit history is sometimes the best move. But like any story, if you want a clean slate, you need to be careful - losing history means no going back.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through a few methods to delete your GitHub commit history safely while keeping your code intact. We'll also explore why and when to make this decision and how it can impact your project.

Why Delete Your GitHub Commit History?

Think of your commit history as the diary of your project. Sometimes, it’s a beautifully organized narrative. Other times, it’s more like those cringy teenage journal entries you wish you could erase. Here are a few scenarios where starting fresh makes sense:

• Simplification: A single clean commit is easier for collaborators or open-source contributors to understand.

• Public Release: Your project may have evolved in purpose, and an old, irrelevant history might confuse potential users or contributors.

• Sensitive Data Removal: Accidentally pushed secrets or confidential information? Even after deletion, traces remain in history unless you clear it entirely. Committing API keys or credentials is a common mistake. Even after deleting these from the code, traces remain in the commit history. Wiping the history ensures they’re gone for good.

Deleting your commit history isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve decided it’s necessary, let’s dive into two effective ways to do it.

Get good with Git

Method 1: Delete Commit History Using an Orphan Branch

One popular way to delete commit history while keeping your code intact is by creating an orphan branch.

What is an orphan branch you may ask? An orphan branch is a new branch without history from the original branch, allowing you to start fresh without keeping any previous commits. Here’s how:

• Check Out to a Temporary Branch

  • First, we need to create a new branch that will become the fresh “initial commit.” Run the following command

git checkout --orphan TEMP_BRANCH

• This command creates TEMP_BRANCH without inheriting any commit history.

  
  

• Stage All Files

  • Now, add all files to this new branch

git add -A

• This stages all your current files for a clean initial commit.

• Commit the Changes

  • Make the initial commit in this new branch

git commit -m "Initial commit"

• This adds a single commit, effectively removing past history from this branch.

• Delete the Old Branch

  • With our new commit in place, it’s safe to delete the original branch (in this example, we’ll assume it’s main)

git branch -D main

• Rename the Temporary Branch

  • Now, rename your temporary branch back to main so it’s ready to push

git branch -m main

• Force Push to GitHub

  • Finally, update your remote repository to match this clean slate

git push -f origin main

• This force push overwrites the remote branch, erasing the previous commit history on GitHub

Method 2: Delete Git History by Removing .git Folder

If Method 1 doesn’t quite work for your setup, there’s another approach. By deleting the .git folder and reinitializing it, you can effectively clear all history.

• Clone the Repository

  • Clone your repository to ensure you’re working with the latest code:

git clone https://github.com/username/your-repo.git

• Remove the .git Folder

  • Navigate into your project directory and delete the .git folder, which contains all commit history:

cd your-repo rm -rf .git

• Reinitialize the Repository

  • Set up a fresh .git folder by reinitializing the repository:

git init

• Re-add the Remote Origin

  • Connect your repository back to GitHub by adding the remote URL:

git remote add origin https://github.com/username/your-repo.git 

git remote -v

• Stage and Commit All Files

  • Stage all files and commit them as a single “initial commit”:

git add --all git commit -m "Initial commit"

• Force Push to GitHub

  • Push your new, history-free repository to GitHub:

git push -f origin main

This method essentially “resets” your repo, giving it a completely fresh commit history.

Choosing the Right Method

Both methods achieve a clean slate, but the choice depends on your needs:

• Orphan Branch: Retains a connection to your current repo, keeping things simple for collaborators.

• Removing .git: Offers a complete reset, ideal if you want zero links to past commits.

Best Practices Before Deleting Commit History

• Backup: Always create a backup of your repository before making major changes. Clone it to a separate location or export a copy.

• Communicate with Team Members: If you’re working in a team, ensure everyone is on the same page. Force pushes can overwrite others’ work.

• Consider Alternatives: Deleting history is irreversible. If the goal is just to tidy up, consider using git rebase -i to squash commits or rewrite history selectively.

Conclusion

Deleting GitHub commit history is a powerful but permanent decision. Whether you’re tidying up for public release, removing sensitive data, or starting fresh, the methods outlined here will help you achieve your goal. Always remember: with great power (and a --force flag) comes great responsibility. Use these tools wisely.

If you’re ready to give your repository a clean slate, follow these steps and share your fresh, organized project with the world!

Note: Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below - whether it's feedback, a topic you'd love to see covered, or just to say hi! Don’t forget to join the forum for more engaging discussions and stay updated with the latest blog posts.

-AJ