Make the switch from master to main, quick and easy.

migrate-git-master-to-main.md

Migration of remote

In your cloned repository:

1. Switch to "master" branch:
   git checkout master
2. Rename the "master" branch to "main" by running:
   git branch -m master main
3. Push new "main" branch to remote by running:
   git push -u origin main
4. If "master" was the default branch (often develop acts as the default branch): In the GitHub project settings, change the default branch from "master" to "main"
5. Cleanup old "master" branch by running:
   git push origin --delete master

Note: You might change your protected branches

Migration for cloned repositories

Other people then either re-clone the repository from scratch or:

1. Switch to the "master" branch by running:
   git checkout master
2. Rename the "master" branch to "main" by running:
   git branch -m master main
3. Fetch latest from remote by running:
   git fetch
4. Remove tracking of remote "master" branch by running:
   git branch --unset-upstream
5. Add tracking of remove "main" branch by running:
   git branch -u origin/main

Notes

Make sure to:

• Update CI / CD pipelines to work with new main branch