How to undo git stash

Sometimes after applying or popping a Git stash, you may realize that you need to revert those changes. This guide will provide detailed instructions on how to undo git stash actions such as undo git stash pop, git undo stash, and undo git stash apply, ensuring you can safely manage and reverse changes as needed.

Understanding Git stash

Git stash temporarily saves modified, tracked files and staged changes, allowing you to switch branches without committing. The stash is locally stored and can be listed, applied, or even removed.

How to undo a Git stash

Undoing a git stash operation can mean two things: reversing the effects of applying a stash to your working directory, or restoring a dropped stash. Here we will focus on the first scenario.

Undoing git stash apply

When you use git stash apply, the stash is not removed from the stash list, which gives you flexibility in accessing it later. If you decide to undo the application of a stash, you can reset or revert the changes without losing them.

Step 1: Check the current status

Before undoing the stash application, check your current changes:

git status

Step 2: Reset the changes

If the changes are not yet staged (not added to the index), you can reset them:

git reset --hard

This command resets the index and working tree. Any changes to tracked files in the working tree since the last commit are discarded. Because you used git stash apply instead of git stash pop the stash will still be present in the stash list, keeping your changes intact.

Undoing git stash pop

Git stash pop applies the stash and then removes it from the stash list. To undo a pop, you need to deal with the fact that the stash is no longer in the list.

Step 1: Recover the last stash (if needed)

If you immediately realize the mistake after popping the stash, you can typically find the commit ID of the stash in the terminal output or via:

git reflog

Look for an entry like "stash apply: WIP on branch...". Note the commit ID.

Step 2: Create a branch from the stash commit

To inspect and potentially revert to the stash, create a temporary branch from it:

git branch temp-branch <commit-ID>

Step 3: Revert to the previous state

Now, check out this branch and revert the changes as needed:

git checkout temp-branch
git reset --hard HEAD^

General tips for reverting changes

• Using git revert for committed changes: If the changes from the stash were committed, you can use git revert to create a new commit that undoes the previous commits.

• Manual undo for specific files: For specific file changes, check out previous versions of the files:

  Terminal

  git checkout HEAD -- path/to/file
  
  

Best practices

• Test before popping a stash: Always check what's in a stash before popping it, especially if you're not sure about its contents:

  Terminal

  git stash show -p stash@{0}
  
  

• Backup stashes: Consider copying important stashes to another branch or tagging them before applying or popping, to prevent data loss.

• Regular commits: Regularly commit your work to avoid reliance on stashes for long-term changes.

Summary

Undoing git stash operations such as git undo stash pop and git undo stash apply requires careful handling to ensure that changes are reverted correctly and that valuable work is not lost. By understanding the mechanics of git stash and how to effectively manage your working directory and index, you can confidently revert any applied or popped stashes.