How to delete a branch in GitHub?

 
Step 0: Ensure you have the necessary permissions
 

Before you delete any branch on GitHub, confirm that you have write or admin access to the repository. Without the correct permissions, you will not see the delete option.

 
Step 1: Identify the branch you want to delete
 

First, determine which branch needs to be removed. You can do this either on the GitHub website or in your local repository.

On the GitHub website:

• Navigate to your repository’s main page.
• Click the Branch dropdown (above the file list) to view all branches.

In your local repository:

git branch

This command lists all local branches and highlights the current one.

 
Step 2: Delete the branch locally (optional)
 

If you have the branch checked out or already fetched locally and want to remove it from your machine, run:

git branch -d branch-name

If Git prevents deletion due to unmerged changes, force deletion with:

git branch -D branch-name

Note: Deleting a local branch does not affect the remote branch on GitHub.

 
Step 3: Delete the branch on the GitHub website
 

To remove the branch directly in the web interface:

• Go to your repository on GitHub.
• Click the Branches tab (usually found above the file list or under Code).
• Locate the branch you want to delete in the list.
• Click the trash can icon on the right of the branch row.
• In the confirmation dialog, click Delete branch.

 
Step 4: Delete the branch using Git command line
 

If you prefer the command line or need to automate the process, you can delete a remote branch with:

git push origin --delete branch-name

After running this, you should see output similar to:

To github.com:username/repo.git
- [deleted]         branch-name

 
Step 5: Verify that the branch has been deleted
 

Make sure the branch no longer exists both locally and remotely.

Check on GitHub website:

• Refresh the Branches page—your branch should be gone.

Check from your local machine:

git fetch --prune
git branch -r

• The remote branch list should no longer include origin/branch-name.

 
Step 6: Clean up any references in pull requests
 

If you opened a Pull Request from the deleted branch, you may wish to close it since the source branch is gone.

• Go to the Pull requests tab in your repository.
• Filter by your branch name or look for the PR title.
• Click Close pull request (do not merge if branch is deleted).