Coding⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: Git submodule update

Git submodule update options for detached HEADs.

Quick Answer: Specifying --rebase or --merge with git submodule update keeps the submodules' HEADs attached to the parent commit, allowing for more predictable updates and merges.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

When using Git submodules, the command `git submodule update` can cause the submodules to be updated in a detached HEAD state. This means that any changes made to the central repository will not be reflected in the submodule until you switch back to the master branch.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • Git submodules are designed to work with the central repository's HEAD, not the submodule's HEAD. When you run `git submodule update`, Git assumes that the submodule is detached and updates its HEAD accordingly.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Rebase Submodule Updates

  1. Step 1: Run `git submodule update --rebase` to rebase the submodule's HEAD onto the central repository's HEAD.

Method 2: Merge Submodule Updates

  1. Step 1: Run `git submodule update --merge` to merge the submodule's HEAD onto the central repository's HEAD.

✨ Wrapping Up

By using `--rebase` or `--merge`, you can ensure that the submodule's HEAD is updated correctly and reflects any changes made to the central repository.

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