How to Change Default Branch on GitHub
Managing branches on GitHub is an essential skill for any developer. One of the common tasks is to change the default branch of a repository. The default branch is the branch that is shown by default when you visit a repository on GitHub. It is often used as the main development branch, and changing it can help organize your workflow and align with your project’s version control strategy. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to change the default branch on GitHub.
Step 1: Access the Repository
To change the default branch, you first need to access the repository on GitHub. You can do this by navigating to the repository’s URL or by searching for it in the GitHub search bar. Once you are on the repository’s page, click on the repository name to expand the repository details.
Step 2: Go to Settings
After accessing the repository, click on the “Settings” tab located on the right-hand side of the page. This will take you to the repository’s settings page, where you can configure various options for your repository.
Step 3: Navigate to Branches
In the repository settings, scroll down to the “Branches” section. Here, you will find a list of all the branches in your repository. The branch that is currently set as the default branch will be highlighted.
Step 4: Change the Default Branch
To change the default branch, click on the current default branch. This will open a dropdown menu with a list of all the branches in the repository. From the dropdown menu, select the branch you want to set as the default. The branch you choose will now be highlighted as the default branch.
Step 5: Save Changes
After selecting the new default branch, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “Save changes” button. This will update the default branch setting for your repository.
Step 6: Verify the Change
To ensure that the default branch has been changed successfully, navigate back to the repository’s main page. You should now see the new default branch displayed prominently.
Conclusion
Changing the default branch on GitHub is a straightforward process that can help you organize your repository and align with your project’s version control strategy. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily change the default branch and ensure that your repository is well-organized and easy to navigate.
