How to change current branch in git from master to main

Question

It is common to change main branches from the old pattern master to main . This can be easily done remotely (GitHub offers a graphical way to do it), but... what should be done with working copies?

Answer 1

1. rename your local branch:

    git branch -m master main

2. change the tracked branch

   git fetch -p origin git branch -u origin/main main

3. change the main local branch

   git remote set-head origin -a

4. optionally, remove the master branch, local and remotely:

    git branch -D master git push origin:master

Updates

• added the -p parameter in step 2, thanks to @torek.
• add the optional step to remove the master branch