> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/ahmadawais/gwtree/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# gwt clean

> Remove merged worktrees in batch

## Syntax

```bash theme={null}
gwt clean [options]
gwt c [options]
```

## Description

Removes worktrees whose branches have been merged to main. By default, only removes merged worktrees. With the `-a` flag, removes all worktrees.

This command is useful for cleaning up completed work after branches have been merged.

## Aliases

* `c` - Short alias for clean

## Options

<ParamField path="-a, --all" type="flag">
  Remove all worktrees, not just merged ones. Use with caution as this removes worktrees with uncommitted changes.
</ParamField>

## Behavior

### Default Mode (Merged Only)

1. **Scan** - Finds all worktrees for current repo
2. **Filter** - Identifies worktrees with branches merged to main
3. **Preview** - Shows list of worktrees to be removed
4. **Confirm** - Asks for confirmation before removal
5. **Remove** - Removes each worktree and updates registry

### All Mode (`-a` flag)

1. **Scan** - Finds all worktrees for current repo
2. **Preview** - Shows all worktrees to be removed
3. **Confirm** - Asks for confirmation
4. **Remove** - Removes all worktrees

## Interactive Flow

### Clean Merged Worktrees

```
┌  Clean Merged Worktrees
│
│  Will remove:
│  •  feature-auth myapp-feature-auth
│  •  bugfix-404 myapp-bugfix-404
│
◇  Remove 2 worktrees?
│  Yes
│
│  ◆  Removed myapp-feature-auth
│  └  /Users/john/projects/myapp-feature-auth
│
│  ◆  Removed myapp-bugfix-404
│  └  /Users/john/projects/myapp-bugfix-404
│
└  Done  Removed 2 worktrees
```

### Clean All Worktrees

```bash theme={null}
gwt clean -a
```

```
┌  Clean All Worktrees
│
│  Will remove:
│  •  feature-auth myapp-feature-auth
│  •  feature-payment myapp-payment
│  •  bugfix-404 myapp-bugfix-404
│
◇  Remove 3 worktrees?
│  Yes
│
└  Done  Removed 3 worktrees
```

## Examples

### Clean merged worktrees

```bash theme={null}
gwt clean
```

### Clean all worktrees

```bash theme={null}
gwt clean --all
```

### Using short flags

```bash theme={null}
gwt c -a
```

### Check before cleaning

```bash theme={null}
# See what's merged
gwt status

# Clean merged worktrees
gwt clean
```

## Merge Detection

A worktree is considered "merged" when:

```bash theme={null}
git branch --merged main
```

Shows the worktree's branch in the output.

This means:

* All commits from the branch are in main
* The branch can be safely deleted
* The worktree is no longer needed

## When No Worktrees to Clean

```bash theme={null}
gwt clean
```

**Output:**

```
│
└  No worktrees to clean
```

This happens when:

* No worktrees exist
* No worktrees have been merged (in default mode)

## Cancellation

You can cancel the operation at the confirmation prompt:

```
◇  Remove 2 worktrees?
│  No
│
└  Cancelled
```

No worktrees are removed if you:

* Select "No"
* Press ESC
* Press Ctrl+C

## Force Removal

The clean command uses force removal (`--force` flag with git) to handle:

* Uncommitted changes (when using `-a`)
* Untracked files
* Modified worktrees

## Branch Handling

The `clean` command only removes worktree directories. Git branches remain in the repository.

To also delete branches:

```bash theme={null}
# Clean merged worktrees
gwt clean

# Delete merged branches
git branch --merged main | grep -v "^\\*" | xargs git branch -d
```

Or use [`gwt merge`](/commands/merge) which removes both.

## Safety Warnings

### Using `--all` Flag

<Warning>
  The `-a, --all` flag removes ALL worktrees, including those with:

  * Uncommitted changes
  * Unmerged commits
  * Active development

  Use `gwt status` first to review what will be lost.
</Warning>

### No Confirmation per Worktree

Unlike [`gwt remove`](/commands/remove), the clean command asks for confirmation only once at the beginning. All selected worktrees are removed in batch.

## Typical Workflow

### After Merging PRs

```bash theme={null}
# Pull merged changes
cd main-repo
git pull

# Check what's merged
gwt status

# Clean merged worktrees
gwt clean
```

### Weekly Cleanup

```bash theme={null}
# See all worktree status
gwt status

# Remove merged ones
gwt clean

# Optionally remove specific unmerged ones
gwt remove
```

### Fresh Start

```bash theme={null}
# Remove everything and start fresh
gwt clean --all
```

## Comparison with Other Commands

| Command        | Selection   | Confirmation  | Branches |
| -------------- | ----------- | ------------- | -------- |
| `gwt clean`    | Merged only | Once          | Keeps    |
| `gwt clean -a` | All         | Once          | Keeps    |
| `gwt remove`   | Interactive | Per worktree  | Keeps    |
| `gwt merge`    | Single      | Per operation | Deletes  |

## Exit Codes

* `0` - Success (worktrees cleaned or operation cancelled)
* `1` - Error (not in a git repository)

## Related Commands

* [gwt status](/commands/status) - Check merge status before cleaning
* [gwt remove](/commands/remove) - Remove worktrees interactively
* [gwt merge](/commands/merge) - Merge and remove a single worktree