NEW! How to Delete a Repository in GitHub (2025) | Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

How to Delete a Repository on GitHub

If you’ve decided that you no longer need a repository on GitHub, deleting it can help you clean up your account and remove outdated projects. However, it’s important to remember that deleting a repository is permanent, so ensure you won’t need it again before proceeding. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to delete a GitHub repository effectively.

What is GitHub?

GitHub is a cloud-based platform that allows developers to store, manage, and collaborate on code using Git. Here are some key features of GitHub:

• Version Control: Track changes in code and revert to previous versions.
• Repositories: Storage locations for projects that contain code, files, and history.
• Collaboration: Teams can work together, review code, and contribute to open-source projects.
• Branching and Merging: Developers can work on different features independently and merge them later.
• GitHub Actions: Automate workflows for testing and development.

Important Considerations Before Deleting a Repository

Before you delete a repository, consider the following:

1. Deletion is Permanent: Once deleted, a repository cannot be recovered.
2. Fork Repositories are Not Affected: If someone has forked your repository, their copy will still exist after deletion.
3. Backup Important Data: If you might need the repository in the future, download a copy before deleting it.

How to Back Up a Repository Before Deleting

To back up a specific repository, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the repository you want to back up. For example, let’s use a project for a Takoyaki business.
2. Click on the green "Code" button.
3. Choose "Download ZIP" to download the repository as a zip file.
4. Extract the zip file to access all files in your repository.

Steps to Delete a Repository on GitHub

To delete a repository, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the repository you want to delete.
2. Click on the gear icon (Settings) in the repository menu.
3. Scroll down to the Danger Zone section.
4. Click on Delete this repository.
5. Confirm the deletion by clicking on I want to delete this repository.
6. Read the warning that explains the consequences of deletion. You’ll need to acknowledge that you understand these effects.
7. Type your GitHub username and the repository name in the confirmation box, which is case-sensitive.
8. Click on Delete this repository.

After confirming, you will no longer see this repository in your profile.

Deleting a Repository Using GitHub CLI

You can also delete a repository using the GitHub CLI:

1. Open your command prompt.
2. Log into your GitHub account using the command:

   git login

3. Type the following command to delete the repository:

   git delete your-username/repository-name

4. Hit Enter to execute the command.

Deleting a Local Repository

If you need to delete a local repository (without affecting the online version), here’s how:

1. Open the GitHub Desktop application.
2. Select the repository you want to delete.
3. Click the "Show in Explorer" button to navigate to the local files.
4. Right-click the repository folder and select Delete to remove it.

Ensure that any programs using this repository are closed to delete the folder successfully.

Conclusion

Deleting a repository on GitHub is straightforward but permanent, so always back up any important data. If you only wish to remove a local repository from your computer, simply delete the folder without affecting the hosted version on GitHub. If this guide has been helpful, consider leaving a like, subscribing, or turning on notifications for similar content. Thank you for reading!