How to Move a Complete Git Repository

Moving a Git repository while preserving all branches, tags, and history requires careful handling. This guide covers the step-by-step process to migrate your repository safely.

Quick Method

For those familiar with Git, here's the quick version:

git clone --mirror $ORIG_REPO_URL temp-dir
cd temp-dir
git remote rm origin
git remote add origin $NEW_REPO_URL
git push origin --all
git push --tags

Detailed Steps

1. Clone the Original Repository

    git clone --mirror $ORIG_REPO_URL temp-dir
   

   The --mirror flag creates a bare repository, including all branches and tags.

2. Navigate to Directory

    cd temp-dir
   

3. Update Remote Configuration

    git remote rm origin
    git remote add origin $NEW_REPO_URL
   

   This step redirects the repository to its new destination.

4. Push All Content

    git push origin --all
    git push --tags
   

   These commands transfer all branches and tags to the new location.

Verification

After migration, verify:

• All branches are present in the new repository

• Commit history is intact

• Tags are properly transferred

• Remote URLs are correctly configured