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How to Remove Files From Git Staging Area?

Last Updated : 24 Jun, 2024
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The Git staging area (also known as the index) is an intermediate space where Git stores changes that are about to be committed. When you add a file to the staging area using git add, it is prepared for the next commit. However, there are situations where you might need to remove a file from the staging area before committing it.

  • You added the wrong file by mistake.
  • You need to make additional changes to the file before committing.
  • You want to split the commit into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Removing a file from the staging area doesn't delete the file from your working directory or the repository. it merely un-stages it, making it as though you hadn't used git add on it.

Approach 1: Using git reset

The git reset command is versatile and can be used to un-stage files from the staging area. It resets the index to the specified state without affecting the working directory.

Syntax

git reset <file>

Example:

Step 1. Check the status: First, check the current status of your working directory.

git status
Screenshot-2024-06-05-185223
How to Remove Files From Git Staging Area

Step 2. Unstage the file: Use git reset to remove the file from the staging area.

git reset README.md
Screenshot-2024-06-05-185322
How to Remove Files From Git Staging Area

Approach 2: Using git restore --staged

The git restore command is a newer addition to Git and provides a straightforward way to unstage files. It effectively moves the specified file from the staging area back to the working directory.

Syntax

git restore --staged <file>

Example:

Step 1. Check the status: First, check the current status of your working directory.

git status
Screenshot-2024-06-05-185223
How to Remove Files From Git Staging Area

Step 2. Unstage the file: Use git restore --staged to remove the file from the staging area.

git restore --staged README.md
Screenshot-2024-06-05-185601
How to Remove Files From Git Staging Area

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