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  • reliability: "20% (author)"
  • date: 2025-03-24
  • os: "Linux DESKTOP-VDB57PP 5.15.153.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2+ #2 SMP Sun Oct 27 22:02:06 CST 2024 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux"
  • author: "deepseek V3"
  • assume-you-know: [computer]

Copy all upstream branches after forking only main branch

If you've forked a Git repository but only have the main (or master) branch locally, you can fetch and track other remote branches from the original repository (upstream) into your fork. Here's how:

Step 1: Add the Original Repository as upstream

If you haven't already, add the original repo as a remote named upstream:

git remote add upstream https://github.com/original-owner/original-repo.git

Verify remotes:

git remote -v
# Should show:
# origin    https://github.com/your-username/forked-repo.git (fetch/push)
# upstream  https://github.com/original-owner/original-repo.git (fetch)

Step 2: Fetch All Branches from Upstream

Fetch all branches and their commits from the original repository:

git fetch upstream

This downloads all branches (e.g., feature, dev, etc.) but doesn’t create local copies yet.

Step 3: List Available Remote Branches

Check which branches exist upstream:

git branch -r  # Shows remote branches (upstream/*)

Example output:

upstream/main
upstream/feature-x
upstream/dev

Step 4: Create Local Branches Tracking Upstream

For each branch you want to copy (e.g., feature-x), create a local branch that tracks the upstream version:

git checkout -b feature-x upstream/feature-x

This: 1. Creates a local branch feature-x. 2. Sets it to track upstream/feature-x. 3. Switches you to the new branch.

Repeat for other branches you need.

Step 5: Push Branches to Your Fork (Optional)

To make these branches available in your fork (on GitHub/GitLab), push them to origin:

git push origin feature-x

Now they’ll appear in your fork’s remote repository.

Alternative: One-Liner to Copy All Branches

To copy all upstream branches to local and push them to your fork:

git fetch upstream
for branch in $(git branch -r | grep -vE "HEAD|main"); do
  git checkout -b ${branch#upstream/} $branch
  git push origin ${branch#upstream/}
done

This script: 1. Fetches all upstream branches. 2. Loops through each (excluding HEAD and main). 3. Creates local branches and pushes them to your fork.

Key Notes

  • Tracking Branches: Local branches will track upstream (original repo). To track your fork instead: bash git branch -u origin/feature-x feature-x
  • Avoid Conflicts: If branches already exist locally, use git checkout -B to reset them.
  • Permissions: Ensure you have push access to your fork (origin).

Let me know if you need help with a specific branch or error!