How to Change the Repository Name in GitHub?

Renaming a GitHub repository is a straightforward process that can be useful when rebranding, updating project names, or adjusting names to better reflect project contents. However, changing a repository name impacts the URLs used to access the repository and clone it, so it’s important to understand how renaming affects users and projects linked to it.

This blog walks through the steps to rename a repository in GitHub and includes tips on managing the effects of the name change.

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Considerations Before Renaming a Repository

Changing a repository’s name can impact:

• Project URLs: The URL to clone the repository will change, which may disrupt any projects or users relying on the previous link.
• GitHub Pages Sites: If the repository is hosting a GitHub Pages site, the URL of the site may also change.
• Integrations: Any integrations, such as CI/CD pipelines, webhooks, or third-party applications, may need updating to reflect the new repository name.

GitHub helps mitigate these changes by creating a redirect from the old repository name to the new one. However, it’s still a good idea to notify collaborators and update your personal or organizational documentation to reflect the change.

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Step 1: Navigate to Repository Settings

1. Go to GitHub and log in.
2. On your dashboard, find and click on the repository you want to rename.
3. In the repository, click on the Settings tab, which can be found on the far right of the menu at the top of the page.

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Step 2: Change the Repository Name

1. In the Repository name section under the General settings, you’ll see a text field with the current name of your repository.
2. Update the name in this field to your desired new name.
3. Click Rename to confirm the change.

GitHub will automatically update the repository’s link and create a redirect from the old URL to the new one, so users navigating to the old repository link will be redirected to the new URL.

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Step 3: Update Local Git Repositories (If Applicable)

Renaming the repository on GitHub doesn’t automatically update the settings for any local copies of the repository. If you or your collaborators have cloned the repository, follow these steps to update the remote URL in each local copy:

1. Open Terminal (or Command Prompt on Windows).
2. Navigate to the local repository by typing:

   cd path/to/your/local/repository

3. Update the repository’s URL by running the following command:

   git remote set-url origin https://github.com/username/new-repository-name.git

Replace username with your GitHub username and new-repository-name with the new repository name.

4. Verify the Update: To ensure the change was successful, use the following command:

   git remote -v

You should see the updated URL for both fetch and push.

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Step 4: Update Any GitHub Pages Links (If Applicable)

If your repository hosts a GitHub Pages site, renaming the repository may impact the URL of the site:

• For user/organization sites (sites with URLs like username.github.io), renaming the repository does not affect the GitHub Pages URL.
• For project sites (URLs like username.github.io/project-name), the GitHub Pages site URL will change to reflect the new repository name.

In the case of a project site, be sure to update any links, documentation, or third-party services that reference the old site URL.

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Step 5: Update Integrations and Documentation

Renaming a repository may affect other systems or services that interact with your repository. Take the time to review and update:

1. Documentation: Update links in README files, wikis, or other documentation within and outside the repository.
2. Integrations: Update CI/CD configurations, webhooks, and third-party services linked to the old repository name.
3. Collaborator Notifications: Inform your team or collaborators about the name change to avoid confusion.

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Summary of Steps

1. Navigate to Settings in your GitHub repository.
2. Change the repository name and save.
3. Update the remote URL in any local clones of the repository.
4. If applicable, update GitHub Pages links.
5. Adjust any documentation, integrations, and notify collaborators as necessary.

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Common Questions about Renaming Repositories

1. What happens to the old repository URL?

• GitHub will redirect users from the old URL to the new one, so existing links won’t immediately break. However, it’s a best practice to update URLs wherever possible.

2. Will renaming the repository affect stars, forks, or issues?

• No, stars, forks, issues, pull requests, and other repository data remain intact after renaming.

3. Can I revert the name change?

• Yes, you can change the repository name again at any time.

4. Will my local Git configurations be affected by the rename?

• Only if you’re working with a local copy of the repository. In that case, update the remote URL as outlined above.

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Conclusion

Renaming a GitHub repository is a quick process, but it’s important to be mindful of how it may affect collaborators, linked services, and local repositories. By following the steps above, you can ensure that the transition to a new repository name goes smoothly, and you maintain a clean, accessible project environment for yourself and others. With GitHub’s built-in redirects, the process is relatively seamless, but regular updates to links and documentation will help keep everything in sync long-term.