How to Remove Unstaged Changes in Git?

When working with Git, it’s common to make changes to files that you may later decide to discard. Knowing how to manage and remove these unstaged changes is crucial for maintaining a clean working directory and ensuring that only the necessary modifications are committed to your repository. In this blog, we’ll explore different methods for removing unstaged changes in Git, helping you understand the nuances of each approach.

What Are Unstaged Changes in Git?

Unstaged changes are edits you have made to files in your repository that have not yet been added to the staging area with git add. These changes are visible when you run:

git status

They appear as “modified” but are not included in the next commit. If you want to remove these changes (i.e., revert the files back to their last committed state), Git provides several ways to do so.

Key Methods for Removing Unstaged Changes

1. Reverting Changes to Modified Files:

• Use git restore or git checkout to discard changes in modified files.

1. Discarding Changes in Untracked Files:

• Use git clean to remove files that are not tracked by Git.

1. Reverting All Changes at Once:

• Combine git restore and git clean for comprehensive cleanup.

Method 1: Removing Changes in Tracked Files Using git restore

The git restore command is a safe way to revert unstaged changes in specific or all modified files.

Syntax:

git restore <file>

Example:

git restore myfile.txt

This will discard changes in myfile.txt and revert it to its last committed state.

Revert All Files:
To discard all unstaged changes in all modified files, use:

git restore .

Method 2: Using git checkout for Legacy Support

Before Git 2.23, the git checkout command was commonly used to discard changes.

Syntax:

git checkout -- <file>

Example:

git checkout -- myfile.txt

Note: While this method is still supported, git restore is now the preferred and more readable approach for reverting changes.

Method 3: Removing Untracked Files with git clean

Untracked files are those that are not yet added to the repository. If you need to remove these files, you can use git clean.

Check What Will Be Removed:
Before running a clean operation, it’s good practice to check which files will be affected:

git clean -n

This shows a list of untracked files that would be removed without actually deleting them.

Remove Untracked Files:
To remove untracked files:

git clean -f

Remove Untracked Directories:
To remove untracked directories as well:

git clean -fd

Remove Ignored Files:
To include ignored files (files listed in .gitignore), use:

git clean -fx

Method 4: Combining Commands for a Comprehensive Cleanup

For situations where you want to discard both unstaged changes in tracked files and remove untracked files, you can use a combination of git restore and git clean:

git restore . && git clean -fd

Important Considerations

• Irreversible Action: Removing changes using git restore, git checkout, or git clean is generally irreversible. Ensure you want to discard these changes permanently before running these commands.
• Backup Before Discarding: If you’re unsure about whether you might need the changes later, create a backup copy of the affected files or stash the changes (see below).

Using git stash as an Alternative

If you want to temporarily save your changes without committing them, use git stash. This command allows you to revert your working directory but still keep a record of the changes that can be reapplied later.

Stash Unstaged Changes:

git stash push -m "Temporary backup"

Reapply the Stash:

git stash apply

View Stashes:

git stash list

Common Use Cases and Examples

Case 1: Reverting a Single File:

git restore myfile.txt

Useful when you’ve made changes to one file and need to revert just that file.

Case 2: Discarding All Changes:

git restore . && git clean -fd

Ideal for resetting your working directory to a clean state when you want to start fresh.

Case 3: Cleaning Untracked Files Only:

git clean -f

Best when you need to clear out new, untracked files without affecting tracked files.

Conclusion

Removing unstaged changes in Git is an essential task that can help you maintain a clean working directory and keep your repository organized. Whether you use git restore, git checkout, or git clean, understanding these commands will empower you to manage your changes effectively and prevent accidental commits.

Always proceed with caution when removing changes, as these actions are typically irreversible. If you’re unsure, use git stash to save your work temporarily or create backups to safeguard your code. By mastering these commands, you can enhance your Git workflow and maintain better control over your development projects.