GIT-MV(1) Git Manual GIT-MV(1)

NAME

git-mv - Move or rename a file, a directory, or a symlink

SYNOPSIS

git mv [<options>] <source>... <destination>

DESCRIPTION

Move or rename a file, directory, or symlink.

git mv [-v] [-f] [-n] [-k] <source> <destination>
git mv [-v] [-f] [-n] [-k] <source> ... <destination-directory>

In the first form, it renames <source>, which must exist and be
either a file, symlink or directory, to <destination>. In the second
form, the last argument has to be an existing directory; the given
sources will be moved into this directory.

The index is updated after successful completion, but the change must
still be committed.

OPTIONS

-f, --force
Force renaming or moving of a file even if the <destination>
exists.

-k
Skip move or rename actions which would lead to an error
condition. An error happens when a source is neither existing nor
controlled by Git, or when it would overwrite an existing file
unless -f is given.

-n, --dry-run
Do nothing; only show what would happen

-v, --verbose
Report the names of files as they are moved.

SUBMODULES

Moving a submodule using a gitfile (which means they were cloned with
a Git version 1.7.8 or newer) will update the gitfile and
core.worktree setting to make the submodule work in the new location.
It also will attempt to update the submodule.<name>.path setting in
the gitmodules(5) file and stage that file (unless -n is used).

BUGS

Each time a superproject update moves a populated submodule (e.g.
when switching between commits before and after the move) a stale
submodule checkout will remain in the old location and an empty
directory will appear in the new location. To populate the submodule
again in the new location the user will have to run "git submodule
update" afterwards. Removing the old directory is only safe when it
uses a gitfile, as otherwise the history of the submodule will be
deleted too. Both steps will be obsolete when recursive submodule
update has been implemented.

GIT

Part of the git(1) suite

Git 2.48.1 2025-01-13 GIT-MV(1)