Table of Contents
Use git switch to move to another branch
Handling uncommitted changes
Return to your previous branch
Home Development Tools git How to temporarily switch to another branch in git

How to temporarily switch to another branch in git

Oct 07, 2025 am 02:23 AM

Use git switch to change branches safely. Run git switch to move to another branch, like git switch main. If uncommitted changes conflict, stash them first with git stash push -m "WIP". After switching back with git switch -, apply changes via git stash pop. Unrelated changes without conflicts carry over. Simply switch, work, then return—effortless and secure.

How to temporarily switch to another branch in git

Sometimes you need to step away from your current work to check something in another branch—maybe to test a bug, review changes, or pull in a quick fix. Git makes it easy to temporarily switch branches without losing your progress.

Use git switch to move to another branch

If you're on a modern version of Git (2.23 ), git switch is the cleanest way to change branches.

  • Run git switch to switch to the target branch
  • For example: git switch main
  • Your working directory updates to reflect that branch’s state

Handling uncommitted changes

If you have uncommitted changes that conflict with the target branch, Git will prevent the switch.

  • You can stash them first: git stash push -m "WIP"
  • After switching back later, apply the stash: git stash pop
  • Or, if changes don’t conflict, Git will carry them across branches safely

Return to your previous branch

Once done, go back to where you were.

  • Use git switch - (the dash means "previous branch")
  • Alternatively, use git switch
  • If you stashed earlier, run git stash pop to restore your work

Basically just switch, do what you need, then switch back. With git switch and git stash, moving between branches temporarily is safe and straightforward.

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