# How to Remove All the Git Branches Except the Master Locally

*Note: I've moved all my projects to use the `main` instead of `master` branch.*

I'm writing this post a note to my future forgetful self.

Today, I ran into a really stupid issue. I worked on updating a remote git repo, and I've already merged and deleted a branch on GitHub with this name, let's call it `Pikachu` for the sake of having an example. 

So, after merging `Pikachu` to `master`, I realized that I needed to make another change to the file I've just pushed. "No biggie" I thought...

```git checkout -b Pikachu```

And then ....

```fatal: A branch named 'Pikachu' already exists.```

At first I was like ....

![](https://media.giphy.com/media/SqmkZ5IdwzTP2/giphy.gif)

Until I realized that the branch I had locally was the one preventing me from generating one. I already merged and removed the same branch on GitHub. In my mind, every `git pull` on master should have removed the local branch, but for obvious reasons that would be a totally stupid thing to happen.

So, how do I clean up my local working repository so that I remove a gazillion stale branches I have locally? You need to get this into your terminal:

```git branch | grep -v "master" | xargs git branch -D ``` 

 In case you have a branch that contains the word "master" this won't work. Instead, you need to:

```git branch | grep -ve " master$" | xargs git branch -D```

That's it. Hope this note to my forgetful future self helps some of you as well 😉