Is this how to restore to a previous commit and reattach the head to it?
git log git checkout 4bce33d #restore to a previous commit git branch -f master #create new branch at head and force branch name to master git checkout master #attach head to master branch This is only on local repository, there is no remote.
Is there a better way?
If you just want to point master at a specific commit,
$ git checkout master # only if you're not already on this branch $ git reset --hard 4bce33d will work. Note that this resets both the branch pointer and your index and working tree. If you want to leave your working tree alone,
$ git reset --soft 4bce33d won't change your files. Any differences between the new HEAD and your local directories will show up as "Changes to be committed".
reset. Here's a more in depth guide about how reset works: git-scm.com/blog/2011/07/11/reset.htmlIf you are ahead than your required commit then you can use this method hit
git log See how much commit you want to go back
then hit
git reset --hard HEAD~N Will move you on N back commit. N = 1,2,3 etc... It will move you N commit back.
To move head-branch to previous commit:
$ git status #make sure current directory is committed, or lose it $ git log --oneline --decorate #make sure there is a ref besides HEAD branch, or lose it $ git reset --hard 9e5e64a #move Head-branch to specified commit Gaston pointed out a good reference. The latest version is on http://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Tools-Reset-Demystified#The-Role-of-Reset