inanzzz | Physically removing untracked files and folders with git clean -fd from the current working directory

Assuming that you want to physically remove "untracked" files and folders from the current working directory so that you can easily use git add --all. This where git clean -fd comes in handy. Remember there is no coming back from this command. Use -n or --dry-run to preview the damage you'll do. For more information, click git clean link.

Check the current status

inanzzz@inanzzz:~/project$ git status
On branch my-feature-branch
Changes to be committed:
  (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage)

	modified:   file_two.txt

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)

	modified:   file_one.txt

Untracked files:
  (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)

	dir_one/
	file_six.txt

Remove only files

As you can see "file_six.txt" has been removed.

inanzzz@inanzzz:~/project$ git clean -f
Removing file_six.txt
inanzzz@inanzzz:~/project$ git status
On branch my-feature-branch
Changes to be committed:
  (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage)

	modified:   file_two.txt

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)

	modified:   file_one.txt

Untracked files:
  (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)

	dir_one/

Check the current status

inanzzz@inanzzz:~/project$ git status
On branch my-feature-branch
Changes to be committed:
  (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage)

	modified:   file_two.txt

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)

	modified:   file_one.txt

Untracked files:
  (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)

	dir_one/
	file_seven.txt

Remove files and directories

As you can see "file_seven.txt" and "dir_one/" have been removed.

inanzzz@inanzzz:~/project$ git clean -fd
Removing dir_one/
Removing file_seven.txt
inanzzz@inanzzz:~/project$ git status
On branch my-feature-branch
Changes to be committed:
  (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage)

	modified:   file_two.txt

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)

	modified:   file_one.txt