$ gitpushf.uk
Git Emergency

I tagged the wrong commit

Severity Annoying

What just happened

A tag is a fixed name on a commit. Tools and people may already have downloaded the release under that version.

Potential risks

  • Moving a published tag confuses everyone who already has it. A new version (v1.2.1) is often better.

Before you run anything

  • Already released on npm, Docker…? Publish a new version instead.
  • Golden rule: before any destructive command, create a safety branch with git branch backup/before-fix — it costs nothing.

Recovery steps

  1. 1

    Where does it point?

    Shows the tagged commit.

    Safe
    $ git show v1.2.0 --stat
  2. 2

    Move it locally

    -f replaces the existing tag.

    Caution
    $ git tag -f -a v1.2.0 <right-hash> -m "v1.2.0"
  3. 3

    Update it on the remote

    Teammates must delete their old copy (git tag -d v1.2.0) and fetch again.

    Destructive
    $ git push origin v1.2.0 --force

These procedures are provided for information only. Read each command and adapt it to your situation before running it. Disclaimer

Other disasters

🪓 I deleted my branch🚨 I pushed directly to main💥 I ran git reset --hard🧨 I overwrote a colleague's commits🔑 I pushed my .env file to GitHub🔀 I made a bad merge👻 I lost uncommitted changes🎯 I committed on the wrong branch🎈 I'm in “detached HEAD” state⚔️ I'm stuck in a merge conflict🚫 My push is rejected (non-fast-forward)🌀 My rebase went wrong🐘 GitHub rejects a file over 100 MB🥸 I committed with the wrong name or email🗑️ I deleted a file and committed it⏪ I want to undo my last commit✏️ I amended a commit that was already pushed🧹 Too many messy commits to clean up📮 I pushed to the wrong branch🧭 I rebased onto the wrong branch🔁 I need back the changes I reverted📦 git stash pop gave me a conflict🙈 I committed a file that should be ignored🔠 Git doesn't see my file rename (upper/lower case)🧨 I ran git clean -fd by mistake🩻 My repository is corrupted🙃 I forgot to pull before pushing👯 Duplicated lines of code after a merge➖ I added a file I didn't want to (git add)✏️ I made a typo in a commit message✂️ My commit does too many things🧺 I lost a stash (drop, clear or pop gone wrong)🫥 I pulled and my code disappeared🍒 I cherry-picked the wrong commit☁️ I deleted a branch on GitHub / GitLab👥 I pushed with the wrong GitHub account🚚 The repository was renamed or moved🌊 Git says every file is modified, but I changed nothing📦 I committed node_modules (or a build folder)📂 I ran git init in the wrong folder🧨 My pull request has conflicts⏳ My pull request is behind main📝 I have to apply review changes to my PR🧳 My PR shows commits that aren't mine🎯 I opened my PR against the wrong branch🚨 A merged PR broke main🚪 I closed my PR (or deleted its branch) by mistake🔴 The checks of my PR are failing🐘 My PR is too big to review🍴 My fork is behind the original repository