How do I reset my local branch to be just like the branch on the remote repository?

To reset your local branch to exactly match the remote repository, follow these steps:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Fetch the latest changes from the remote:

   git fetch origin

• This updates your local references to the remote repository without altering your working files.

1. Checkout your target branch (if not already on it):

   git checkout main  # Replace "main" with your branch name (e.g., master, develop)

3. Reset your local branch to match the remote:

   git reset --hard origin/main  # Use the remote branch name (e.g., origin/master)

• --hard discards all local changes and resets your branch to the remote’s state.

1. Delete untracked files/directories (optional cleanup):

   git clean -df

• -d: Remove untracked directories.
• -f: Force deletion (required).
• Use git clean -n first to preview what will be deleted.

Example Workflow

# Fetch the latest remote state
git fetch origin

# Switch to the branch you want to reset (e.g., main)
git checkout main

# Reset to match the remote branch
git reset --hard origin/main

# Optional: Remove untracked files (e.g., build artifacts, logs)
git clean -df

Key Notes:

• Irreversible Action: This permanently discards local changes and commits. Back up work with git stash if needed.
• Remote Branch Name: Ensure you reference the correct branch (e.g., origin/main, origin/master).
• Collaboration: Avoid this on shared branches if others rely on your local commits.

What This Does:

• git reset --hard: Moves the branch pointer to the remote commit and overwrites your working directory.
• git clean -df: Removes untracked files (e.g., temporary files, build artifacts).

By following these steps, your local branch will mirror the remote repository.