How to Create a Remote Git Branch

You created a local branch and want to share it with your team by pushing it to the remote repository. Or you need to create a branch directly on the remote for others to use.

TLDR: To create a remote branch from a local branch, use git push -u origin branch-name. The -u flag sets up tracking so future pushes and pulls work automatically. To create a remote branch without a local one, push an empty branch or use your Git hosting platform's interface.

In this guide, you'll learn how to create and manage remote branches in Git.

Prerequisites

You'll need Git installed, a repository with remote access, and permissions to push to the remote. Basic familiarity with Git branches and remotes will be helpful.

Understanding Local vs Remote Branches

Git keeps branches in two places:

Local Repository          Remote Repository
----------------          -----------------
main                      origin/main
feature-auth              origin/feature-auth
bugfix-login              (not on remote yet)

Local branches exist only on your machine until you push them to a remote repository.

Creating a Remote Branch from Local

The most common way to create a remote branch is pushing a local branch:

# Create a local branch
git checkout -b feature-new-ui

# Make some commits
git add .
git commit -m "Add UI components"

# Push to remote and create remote branch
git push -u origin feature-new-ui

The -u flag (same as --set-upstream) sets up tracking between your local and remote branch.

After pushing, verify the remote branch exists:

# List remote branches
git branch -r

# Output:
#   origin/main
#   origin/feature-new-ui

Setting Up Branch Tracking

The -u flag during push sets up tracking:

# Push with tracking
git push -u origin feature-auth

# Now you can use simple commands
git push        # Pushes to origin/feature-auth
git pull        # Pulls from origin/feature-auth

Without tracking, you need to specify the remote and branch every time:

# Without tracking
git push origin feature-auth
git pull origin feature-auth

Creating Remote Branch Without Local Commits

To create a remote branch from your current position without making new commits:

# On main branch
git checkout main

# Create and push a new branch from current HEAD
git push origin HEAD:feature-new-branch

# Or explicitly specify the branch
git push origin main:feature-new-branch

This creates feature-new-branch on the remote, pointing to the same commit as your current branch.

Pushing an Existing Branch for the First Time

If you have a local branch with commits but have not pushed it yet:

# Check your local branches
git branch
# * feature-auth
#   main

# Push the branch to remote
git push -u origin feature-auth

Git creates the remote branch and sets up tracking.

Creating Remote Branch with Different Name

To create a remote branch with a different name than your local branch:

# Local branch is 'feature', push as 'feature-auth'
git push -u origin feature:feature-auth

# Now your local 'feature' tracks remote 'feature-auth'

The syntax is git push origin local-branch:remote-branch.

Verifying Remote Branch Creation

After pushing, confirm the branch exists remotely:

# List all remote branches
git branch -r

# Show detailed remote branch info
git remote show origin

# Output includes:
#   Remote branches:
#     main tracked
#     feature-auth tracked

You can also check on your Git hosting platform (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) to see the branch in the UI.

Creating Empty Remote Branch

To create a remote branch that does not yet have any new commits:

# Create local branch from current position
git checkout -b feature-placeholder

# Push immediately without new commits
git push -u origin feature-placeholder

This is useful for reserving a branch name or setting up a branch for someone else to work on.

Multiple People Creating the Same Branch

If someone else already created the branch remotely:

# Try to push your branch
git push -u origin feature-auth
# error: failed to push some refs

# Fetch to see remote branches
git fetch origin

# Check out the remote branch
git checkout feature-auth
# Git automatically creates a local tracking branch

# Or explicitly
git checkout -b feature-auth origin/feature-auth

Git warns you if the branch already exists, preventing conflicts.

Pushing Multiple Branches

To push several branches at once:

# Push all local branches to remote
git push --all origin

# Push all branches and tags
git push --all origin
git push --tags origin

Use --all carefully - it pushes every local branch to the remote, which might not always be desired.

Creating Branch via Git Hosting Platforms

You can also create branches through your hosting platform's web interface:

GitHub:

1. Go to your repository
2. Click the branch dropdown
3. Type a new branch name
4. Click "Create branch"

GitLab:

1. Go to Repository > Branches
2. Click "New branch"
3. Enter branch name and source
4. Click "Create branch"

Bitbucket:

1. Go to Branches
2. Click "Create branch"
3. Enter name and branching point
4. Click "Create"

Then fetch the branch locally:

git fetch origin
git checkout new-branch

Creating Branch from Specific Commit

To create a remote branch from a specific commit:

# Create local branch from commit hash
git checkout -b hotfix abc123

# Push to remote
git push -u origin hotfix

# Or do it in one step
git push origin abc123:refs/heads/hotfix

This creates a remote branch starting at that specific commit.

Creating Branch from Tag

To create a branch based on a tag:

# Create local branch from tag
git checkout -b release-fixes v1.0.0

# Push to remote
git push -u origin release-fixes

# Or in one step
git push origin refs/tags/v1.0.0:refs/heads/release-fixes

Checking Branch Push Status

To see which local branches have been pushed:

# Show local and remote branch relationships
git branch -vv

# Output:
#   feature-auth    abc123 [origin/feature-auth] Add authentication
#   feature-ui      def456 Add UI (not pushed yet)
# * main            ghi789 [origin/main] Update README

Branches with [origin/branch-name] are pushed and tracking. Branches without it exist only locally.

Deleting Remote Branch After Creation

If you created a remote branch by mistake:

# Delete remote branch
git push origin --delete feature-wrong-name

# Or use the colon syntax
git push origin :feature-wrong-name

This removes the branch from the remote repository.

Protecting Remote Branches

After creating important remote branches, protect them:

GitHub:

1. Go to Settings > Branches
2. Add branch protection rule
3. Configure requirements (reviews, status checks)

GitLab:

1. Settings > Repository > Protected branches
2. Select branch and protection level

Bitbucket:

1. Repository settings > Branch permissions
2. Add branch permission rule

Protection prevents accidental deletion or forced pushes.

Common Workflows

Feature Branch Workflow:

# Create feature branch
git checkout -b feature-payment-gateway

# Work and commit
git add .
git commit -m "Implement payment processing"

# Push to remote for review
git push -u origin feature-payment-gateway

# Team reviews on GitHub/GitLab
# After approval, merge via pull request

Hotfix Workflow:

# Create hotfix from main
git checkout main
git pull origin main
git checkout -b hotfix-security-patch

# Fix and commit
git commit -am "Fix security vulnerability"

# Push immediately
git push -u origin hotfix-security-patch

# Deploy and merge back to main

Renaming Remote Branch

Git does not have a direct rename command for remote branches:

# Create new branch with new name
git push origin old-name:new-name

# Delete old branch
git push origin --delete old-name

# Update local tracking
git branch -u origin/new-name

This effectively renames the remote branch.

Syncing Remote Branches

To see which remote branches exist:

# Fetch updates from remote
git fetch origin

# List remote branches
git branch -r

# See remote branches not in local
git remote show origin

Fetching updates your knowledge of remote branches without modifying local branches.

Best Practices

Use descriptive branch names:

# Good names
git push -u origin feature/user-authentication
git push -u origin bugfix/login-redirect
git push -u origin release/v2.0

# Less helpful names
git push -u origin feature1
git push -u origin fix
git push -u origin temp

Always use -u on first push:

# Good: Sets up tracking
git push -u origin feature-auth

# Works but requires specifying remote/branch later
git push origin feature-auth

Clean up old remote branches:

# Delete merged branches
git push origin --delete feature-completed

# Prune deleted remote branches locally
git fetch --prune

Coordinate with team on branch naming:

# Team conventions
git push -u origin username/feature-name
git push -u origin issue-123-fix-bug
git push -u origin feature/JIRA-456-new-api

Now you know how to create remote Git branches. The git push -u origin branch-name command is your primary tool for sharing local branches with your team, and understanding the relationship between local and remote branches helps you collaborate effectively.