'\" t
.\"     Title: git-prune
.\"    Author: [FIXME: author] [see http://www.docbook.org/tdg5/en/html/author]
.\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets v1.79.2 <http://docbook.sf.net/>
.\"      Date: 2026-09-28
.\"    Manual: Git Manual
.\"    Source: Git 2.56.0.1.gaef21129fd
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "GIT\-PRUNE" "1" "2026\-09\-28" "Git 2\&.56\&.0\&.1\&.gaef21129" "Git Manual"
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.SH "NAME"
git-prune \- Prune all unreachable objects from the object database
.SH "SYNOPSIS"

.sp
.nf
\fIgit prune\fR [\-n] [\-v] [\-\-progress] [\-\-expire <time>] [\-\-] [<head>\&...]
.fi
.sp


.SH "DESCRIPTION"

.if n \{\
.sp
.\}
.RS 4
.it 1 an-trap
.nr an-no-space-flag 1
.nr an-break-flag 1
.br
.ps +1
\fBNote\fR
.ps -1
.br
.sp
In most cases, users should run \fIgit gc\fR, which calls \fIgit prune\fR\&. See the section "NOTES", below\&.
.sp .5v
.RE
.sp
This runs \fIgit fsck \-\-unreachable\fR using all the refs available in \fBrefs/\fR, optionally with an additional set of objects specified on the command line, and prunes all unpacked objects unreachable from any of these head objects from the object database\&. In addition, it prunes the unpacked objects that are also found in packs by running \fIgit prune\-packed\fR\&. It also removes entries from \&.git/shallow that are not reachable by any ref\&.
.sp
Note that unreachable, packed objects will remain\&. If this is not desired, see \fBgit-repack\fR(1)\&.

.SH "OPTIONS"



.PP
\-n, \-\-dry\-run
.RS 4




Do not remove anything; just report what it would remove\&.

.RE
.PP
\-v, \-\-verbose
.RS 4




Report all removed objects\&.

.RE
.PP
\-\-progress
.RS 4



Show progress\&.

.RE
.PP
\-\-expire <time>
.RS 4



Only expire loose objects older than <time>\&.

.RE
.PP
\-\-
.RS 4



Do not interpret any more arguments as options\&.

.RE
.PP
<head>\&...
.RS 4



In addition to objects reachable from any of our references, keep objects reachable from listed <head>s\&.

.RE

.SH "EXAMPLES"

.sp
To prune objects not used by your repository or another that borrows from your repository via its \fB\&.git/objects/info/alternates\fR:

.sp
.if n \{\
.RS 4
.\}
.nf
$ git prune $(cd \&.\&./another && git rev\-parse \-\-all)
.fi
.if n \{\
.RE
.\}
.sp


.SH "NOTES"

.sp
In most cases, users will not need to call \fIgit prune\fR directly, but should instead call \fIgit gc\fR, which handles pruning along with many other housekeeping tasks\&.
.sp
For a description of which objects are considered for pruning, see \fIgit fsck\fR\*(Aqs \-\-unreachable option\&.

.SH "SEE ALSO"

.sp
\fBgit-fsck\fR(1), \fBgit-gc\fR(1), \fBgit-reflog\fR(1)

.SH "GIT"

.sp
Part of the \fBgit\fR(1) suite