How do I revert all local changes in Git managed project to previous state?

To revert all local changes in a Git project to a previous state, use one of these commands depending on your specific needs:

1. Discard Unstaged Changes (Not Added to Staging)

git restore .          # For all files (Git v2.23+)
git checkout -- .      # Alternative for older Git versions

2. Discard Staged Changes (Added to Staging)

git reset --hard       # Unstage and discard all changes

3. Revert to Last Commit (Discard All Uncommitted Changes)

git reset --hard HEAD  # Reset to last commit (destructive - use with caution!)

4. Revert to a Specific Commit (Discard All Newer Commits)

git reset --hard <commit-hash>  # e.g., git reset --hard a1b2c3d

5. Remove Untracked Files/Directories

git clean -df  # Delete untracked files and directories (-f force, -d directories)

6. Full Cleanup (All Changes + Untracked Files)

git reset --hard && git clean -df  # Reset + delete untracked files

7. Safe Alternative: Stash Changes

If you want to save changes for later instead of deleting them:

git stash -u  # Stash tracked + untracked files
git stash drop  # Delete the stash later (optional)

Key Notes

• git reset --hard is destructive and cannot be undone. Use cautiously!
• git clean deletes untracked files permanently. Add -n for a dry-run first.
• To revert a specific file:

  git restore path/to/file  # Discard changes to a single file

Example Workflow

# 1. Check status
git status

# 2. Discard all local changes (tracked/untracked)
git reset --hard && git clean -df

# 3. Verify
git status  # Should show "nothing to commit"

Choose the method that matches your needs, and always double-check with git status before running destructive commands!