> ## 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 remove

> Remove worktrees interactively with search

## Syntax

```bash theme={null}
gwt remove
gwt rm
```

## Description

Interactively remove worktrees for the current repository. Provides a searchable interface to select and remove worktrees one at a time.

The command continues to prompt for worktrees to remove until you cancel (Ctrl+C or ESC).

## Aliases

* `rm` - Short alias for remove

## Interactive Flow

The command provides an interactive search interface:

```
┌  Remove Worktree
│
◇  Search worktree:
│  feature-
│  
│  Results:
│  • feature-auth myapp-feature-auth
│  • feature-payment myapp-payment
│
◇  Remove myapp-feature-auth?
│  Yes
│
│  ◆  Removed myapp-feature-auth
│  └  /Users/john/projects/myapp-feature-auth
│
◇  Search worktree:
│  [continuing...]
```

## Examples

### Remove worktrees interactively

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

### Using the short alias

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

## Search Functionality

The search is case-insensitive and matches against:

* Branch name (e.g., `feature-auth`)
* Worktree directory name (e.g., `myapp-feature-auth`)
* Full path (e.g., `/Users/john/projects/myapp-feature-auth`)

**Example searches:**

* Type `feat` - Shows all worktrees with "feat" in branch or path
* Type `auth` - Shows worktrees containing "auth"
* Type `projects/` - Shows worktrees in a specific directory

## Confirmation

Before removing each worktree, you'll see a confirmation prompt:

```
◇  Remove myapp-feature-auth?
│  ● Yes
│  ○ No
```

* Select "Yes" to remove the worktree
* Select "No" to skip and continue searching
* Press ESC or Ctrl+C to exit

## Removal Process

For each confirmed removal:

1. **Git Command** - Executes `git worktree remove "<path>" --force`
2. **Fallback** - If git command fails, uses filesystem removal (`rm -rf`)
3. **Registry Update** - Removes entry from `~/.gwtree/worktrees.json`
4. **Confirmation** - Shows success or error message

**Success output:**

```
│  ◆  Removed myapp-feature-auth
│  └  /Users/john/projects/myapp-feature-auth
```

**Error output:**

```
│  ◆  Failed to remove myapp-feature-auth
│  └  /Users/john/projects/myapp-feature-auth
```

## Continuous Mode

After removing a worktree, the search prompt appears again, allowing you to remove multiple worktrees in one session:

```bash theme={null}
gwt remove
# Remove first worktree
# Search prompt appears again
# Remove second worktree
# Search prompt appears again
# Press ESC to exit
```

## Exiting

To exit the remove command:

* Press **ESC** during search
* Press **Ctrl+C** at any time

You'll see:

```
│
└  Done
```

## When No Worktrees Exist

If no worktrees are found:

```
│
└  No worktrees found for myrepo
```

## Force Removal

The command always uses `--force` flag with `git worktree remove` to handle:

* Worktrees with uncommitted changes
* Worktrees with untracked files
* Modified worktrees

## Safety Features

1. **Confirmation Required** - Never removes without explicit confirmation
2. **Search First** - See what you're removing before confirming
3. **One at a Time** - Removes worktrees sequentially, not in batch
4. **Registry Cleanup** - Automatically updates internal tracking

## Branch Handling

The `remove` command only removes the worktree directory and registry entry. The git branch remains intact.

To remove the branch as well, use:

```bash theme={null}
# After removing the worktree
git branch -d branch-name
```

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

## Comparison with Other Commands

| Command      | Purpose             | Confirmation  | Batch |
| ------------ | ------------------- | ------------- | ----- |
| `gwt remove` | Interactive removal | Per worktree  | No    |
| `gwt clean`  | Remove merged       | Once          | Yes   |
| `gwt merge`  | Merge & remove      | Per operation | No    |

## Exit Codes

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

## Related Commands

* [gwt clean](/commands/clean) - Remove merged worktrees in batch
* [gwt merge](/commands/merge) - Merge branch to main and remove worktree
* [gwt list](/commands/list) - List all worktrees