However bash I back the about new section commits successful Git?

How do I undo the most recent local commits in Git?

I accidentally committed the wrong files to Git but haven’t pushed the commit to the server yet.

How do I undo those commits from the local repository?


Undo a commit & redo

$ git commit -m "Something terribly misguided" # (0: Your Accident)$ git reset HEAD~ # (1)# === If you just want to undo the commit, stop here! ===[ edit files as necessary ] # (2)$ git add . # (3)$ git commit -c ORIG_HEAD # (4)
  1. git reset is the command responsible for the undo. It will undo your last commit while leaving your working tree (the state of your files on disk) untouched. You’ll need to add them again before you can commit them again.
  2. Make corrections to working tree files.
  3. git add anything that you want to include in your new commit.
  4. Commit the changes, reusing the old commit message. reset copied the old head to .git/ORIG_HEAD; commit with -c ORIG_HEAD will open an editor, which initially contains the log message from the old commit and allows you to edit it. If you do not need to edit the message, you could use the -C option.

Alternatively, to edit the previous commit (or just its commit message), commit --amend will add changes within the current index to the previous commit.

To remove (not revert) a commit that has been pushed to the server, rewriting history with git push origin main --force[-with-lease] is necessary. It’s almost always a bad idea to use --force; prefer --force-with-lease instead, and as noted in the git manual:

You should understand the implications of rewriting history if you amend a commit that has already been published.


Further Reading

You can use git reflog to determine the SHA-1 for the commit to which you wish to revert. Once you have this value, use the sequence of commands as explained above.


HEAD~ is the same as HEAD~1. The article What is the HEAD in git? is helpful if you want to uncommit multiple commits.


Undoing a commit is a little scary if you don’t know how it works. But it’s actually amazingly easy if you do understand. I’ll show you the 4 different ways you can undo a commit.

Say you have this, where C is your HEAD and (F) is the state of your files.

 (F)A-B-C ↑ master

Option 1: git reset --hard

You want to destroy commit C and also throw away any uncommitted changes. You do this:

git reset --hard HEAD~1

The result is:

 (F)A-B ↑master

Now B is the HEAD. Because you used --hard, your files are reset to their state at commit B.

Option 2: git reset

Maybe commit C wasn’t a disaster, but just a bit off. You want to undo the commit but keep your changes for a bit of editing before you do a better commit. Starting again from here, with C as your HEAD:

 (F)A-B-C ↑ master

Do this, leaving off the --hard:

git reset HEAD~1

In this case the result is:

 (F)A-B-C ↑master

In both cases, HEAD is just a pointer to the latest commit. When you do a git reset HEAD~1, you tell Git to move the HEAD pointer back one commit. But (unless you use --hard) you leave your files as they were. So now git status shows the changes you had checked into C. You haven’t lost a thing!

Option 3: git reset --soft

For the lightest touch, you can even undo your commit but leave your files and your index:

git reset --soft HEAD~1

This not only leaves your files alone, it even leaves your index alone. When you do git status, you’ll see that the same files are in the index as before. In fact, right after this command, you could do git commit and you’d be redoing the same commit you just had.

Option 4: you did git reset --hard and need to get that code back

One more thing: Suppose you destroy a commit as in the first example, but then discover you needed it after all? Tough luck, right?

Nope, there’s still a way to get it back. Type this

git reflog

and you’ll see a list of (partial) commit SHAs (that is, hashes) that you’ve moved around in. Find the commit you destroyed, and do this:

git checkout -b someNewBranchName shaYouDestroyed

You’ve now resurrected that commit. Commits don’t actually get destroyed in Git for some 90 days, so you can usually go back and rescue one you didn’t mean to get rid of.


Git is a powerful version control system that allows developers to track changes to their code, collaborate effectively, and revert to previous states when necessary. One common scenario is needing to undo recent local commits. Whether you’ve made a mistake, committed too early, or simply want to revise your changes, Git provides several ways to undo commits. Understanding these methods is crucial for maintaining a clean and accurate project history. This guide will walk you through various techniques to undo your most recent local commits, ensuring you can confidently manage your Git repository. Let’s dive in and explore the options available to you.

Reverting Recent Commits in Your Local Repository

When working locally with Git, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to undo one or more of your most recent commits. This could be because you accidentally committed unfinished work, included sensitive information, or simply want to rework a feature. Fortunately, Git provides several tools to handle this, each with its own use case and implications. It’s essential to understand the differences between these methods to choose the one that best suits your needs. Whether you need to completely remove the commits or just modify them, Git has you covered. Knowing how to properly revert commits will not only keep your repository clean but also save you time and headaches in the long run.

Using git reset to Undo Commits

The git reset command is a powerful tool for moving the current branch pointer to a previous commit. It comes in three flavors: –soft, –mixed, and –hard, each affecting the working directory and staging area differently. Understanding these modes is crucial to avoid unintended data loss. The –soft reset is the least destructive, preserving both your working directory and staging area. The –mixed reset, which is the default if no mode is specified, preserves your working directory but unstages your changes. The –hard reset is the most aggressive, discarding both your working directory and staging area, effectively reverting your files to the state of the specified commit. Choosing the right reset mode depends on whether you want to keep your changes, unstage them, or completely discard them.

Here’s a breakdown of git reset modes:

Mode Working Directory Staging Area Commit History
–soft Unchanged Staged Rewrites
–mixed Unchanged Unstaged Rewrites
–hard Discarded Discarded Rewrites

To undo the most recent commit using a soft reset, you would run:

git reset --soft HEAD~1

This moves the branch pointer back by one commit, but keeps the changes in your working directory and staging area. If you prefer to unstage the changes while keeping them in your working directory, use:

git reset --mixed HEAD~1

For a more drastic approach, use a hard reset:

git reset --hard HEAD~1

This discards the changes entirely. Use this with caution, as it is difficult to recover lost work. Always double-check the git log output before running a hard reset to make sure you’re targeting the correct commit. If you want to learn more about Git commands, check out Atlassian’s Git tutorials.

Alternatives to Resetting: Reverting Commits and Creating New Commits

While git reset directly alters the commit history of your local branch, sometimes you need an approach that preserves the existing history. This is where git revert comes in handy. Unlike git reset, git revert doesn’t remove commits. Instead, it creates a new commit that undoes the changes introduced by a specific commit. This is particularly useful when working on shared branches, as it avoids rewriting history that others may have already built upon. Reverting a commit creates a clear record of the undo operation, making it easier to track changes and collaborate with other developers. The trade-off is that your history will be longer, containing both the original erroneous commit and the reverting commit. This approach is generally safer for collaborative environments. You can also review the benefits of Git on Git’s official page.

To revert the most recent commit, use the following command:

git revert HEAD

This will open your configured text editor, prompting you to enter a commit message for the revert commit. Once you save the message, Git will create a new commit that effectively undoes the changes from the HEAD commit (the most recent commit). This ensures that the original commit remains in the history, while the new commit negates its effects. If you want to revert multiple commits, you can specify a range:

git revert HEAD~2..HEAD

This will revert the last three commits (HEAD, HEAD~1, and HEAD~2), creating a new commit for each reversion. Each revert operation creates a new commit, so your project history grows linearly, preserving all past actions. For more advanced scenarios, consider using GitKraken’s guide to git revert for additional insights.

In conclusion, understanding how to undo commits in Git is essential for effective version control. While git reset provides a way to rewrite history locally, git revert offers a safer approach for shared branches by creating new commits that undo previous changes. Choosing the right method depends on your specific needs and the context of your project. By mastering these techniques, you can confidently manage your Git repository and maintain a clean and accurate project history. Now that you understand the methods, try them out in your local environment to solidify your understanding!


How do I undo the most recent local commits in Git?

How do I undo the most recent local commits in Git? from Youtube.com

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