Setting Upstream Branch in Git (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 9 May, 2026

An upstream branch is the remote branch associated with a local branch that Git uses as the default reference for synchronization.

• It allows default git push and git pull without specifying the remote and branch each time.
• Usually a branch from the remote repository, such as origin/main.
• Can be configured using git push -u or git branch -u.

Git Upstream Branch Workflow

• **Fork: Create a personal copy of the repository (fork) from the Upstream (original source).
• **Clone: Download the forked repository to your local machine (Local).
• **Make Changes: Work on the local repository by making changes or additions.
• **Push: Upload changes from the local repository to your personal fork (Origin).
• **Pull Request: Propose changes to the Upstream by submitting a pull request from your fork.
• **Pull: Sync your local repository with the Upstream to incorporate updates.

Set Upstream Branch using Git Push command

To set an upstream branch using git push, first create and switch to a new branch using the -b option.

git checkout -b

After running the command, Git switches to the newly created branch and confirms the branch change.

Switching the branch confirmation

If the current branch (e.g., new_branch) has no upstream configured, running git push returns an error indicating that no upstream branch is set.

Set the upstream branch using the git push command with the -u option, replacing with the name of your local branch.

git push -u origin

Alternatively, you can use the '--set-upstream' command as well to set the Upstream branch

git push --set-upstream origin

Change Upstream Branches in Git

To change the upstream branch of the current local branch, use:

git branch -u <remote/branch name>

**Example:

git branch main -u <origin/new_branch>
git branch main -u <origin/main>

After running the command, Git prints a confirmation message indicating that the upstream branch has been updated.

Check Upstream Tracking Branches

To view which local branches are tracking upstream branches, use the -vv option with git branch.

git branch -vv

The main branch tracks origin/main, the test branch tracks origin/test, and the new_branch branch tracks origin/new_branch.