How to Untrack a File Already Committed to a Git Repository
Jul 28, 2025 am 01:46 AMTo correctly stop tracking committed files, the following steps are required: 1. Use git rm --cached <filename> to remove files from the Git index but keep local files, use git rm -r --cached <folder> for the directory; 2. Add the file to .gitignore to prevent future retracking, and submit changes to .gitignore through echo "
If you've accidentally committed a file to a Git repository that you don't want tracked—like config files, credentials, or build artifacts—you can stop Git from tracking it going forward. However, just adding it to .gitignore
won't remove it from the repository history. Here's how to properly untrack a file already committed.

1. Remove the File from Git (But Keep It Locally)
Use git rm --cached
to remove the file from Git's index without deleting it from your working directory:
git rm --cached <filename>
For example:

git rm --cached config.env
This tells Git to stop tracking the file, but keeps it on your machine.
? Use
git rm -r --cached <folder>
for directories.
2. Update .gitignore
to Prevent Future Tracking
Even after removing the file from Git, you should add it to .gitignore
so it doesn't get accidentally re-added later:
echo "<filename>" >> .gitignore git add .gitignore
Example:
echo "config.env" >> .gitignore git add .gitignore
Now Git will ignore future changes to this file.
3. Commit the Changes
Commit the removal of the file and the updated .gitignore
:
git commit -m "Stop tracking <filename> and add to .gitignore"
4. (Optional) Remove from All Branches and History
If the file contains sensitive data (like passwords), simply untracking it isn't enough—its history remains in the repo. You'll need to rewrite history to fully remove it.
Use git filter-branch
or the safer, modern tool BFG Repo-Cleaner , or git filter-repo
:
Using git filter-repo
(recommended):
pip install git-filter-repo # Install if needed git filter-repo --path <filename> --invert-paths
This removes the file from all commits in history.
?? Warning: Rewriting history affects collaboration. If the repo is shared, coordinate with your team.
After cleaning, force-push:
git push origin main --force
What Happens to the File After Untracking?
- ? Stays on your local machine
- ? No longer tracked in future commits
- ? Other developers will see it removed on their next
git pull
unless they've made local changes
?? If others have local changes to the file, they may encounter conflicts or lose changes. Communication before untracking shared files.
Summary
To untrack a committed file:
- ? Use
git rm --cached <file></file>
to stop tracking - ? Add the file to
.gitignore
- ? Commit the change
- ? For sensitive data, use
git filter-repo
to purge from history
Basically, .gitignore
only prevents future tracking—removing already tracked files require active steps. Once done, the file stays on disk but disappears from version control.
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