Coding⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: git: rename local branch failed

Renaming a local branch in Git with a submodule requires updating the submodule first.

Quick Answer: The issue is caused by the submodule not being updated after cloning. Try running `git submodule update --init` and then `git branch -m `.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  2. ✨ Wrapping Up

The error occurs because the submodule's branch is not being tracked by the main repository. This can happen when you clone a repository with submodules and don't update the submodule's remote tracking information.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Update Submodule Remote Tracking

  1. Step 1: Navigate to the repository's root directory.
  2. Step 2: Run `git submodule update --remote` to update the submodule's remote tracking information.
  3. Step 3: Run `git branch -m <newname>` to rename the local branch.

Method 2: Create a New Branch and Switch

  1. Step 1: Run `git checkout -b <newname>` to create a new branch.
  2. Step 2: Switch to the new branch using `git checkout <newname>`.
  3. Step 3: Run `git branch -m <oldname> <newname>` to rename the old branch to the new one.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully rename your local branch and resolve the error. Remember to update your submodule's remote tracking information before attempting to rename the branch.

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