I can't delete my sub-module
Asked by Lester Bloom:

Hello,

I accidentally created my submodule at the wrong location. I want to delete it and re-add it correctly. However, I can't figure out how to delete it.  

![Capture.PNG](/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/40662i64473F3D3B800621/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "Capture.PNG")

Any help would be appreciated.  
Thank you


Answers:
author: Lester Bloom
body: For anyone else coming by later, I ended up finding this ...

"Since git 1.8.5, `git mv old/submod new/submod` works as expected and does all the plumbing for you. You might want to use git 1.9.3 or newer, because it includes fixes for submodule moving."  

via <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4604486/how-do-i-move-an-existing-git-submodule-within-a-git-repository>


author: Ana Retamal
body: Hi Lester,

The best way to completely remove a submodule would be using the command line, you can follow the steps:

1. Delete the relevant section from the `.gitmodules` file.
2. Stage the `.gitmodules` changes `git add .gitmodules`
3. Delete the relevant section from `.git/config`.
4. Run `git rm --cached path_to_submodule` (no trailing slash).
5. Run `rm -rf .git/modules/path_to_submodule`
6. Commit `git commit -m "Removed submodule <name>"`
7. Delete the now untracked submodule files  
   `rm -rf path_to_submodule`

`You can also find different approaches `[in this thread](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1260748/how-do-i-remove-a-submodule)`.`

Hope that helps!

Ana

comments: author: Lester Bloom
body: Hi [@Ana Retamal](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1067288),

I have a couple follow up questions.

1) My real issue is that I added the submodule to the incorrect path. I was planning on deleting the submodule and then re-creating it. Is it instead possible to move the submodule? I noticed the paths in the .gitmodules; can I edit those? (FYI, I tried this before asking and it didn't work, but maybe I am doing something wrong)  

2) I have multiple submodules, and after editing the .gitmodules file, by hand, all my other submodules disappear from sourcetree. Is that expected behavior? I have not completed your steps because I wanted to wait for an answer to this before proceeding too far.  

Thank you for the help  
Lester


author: Lester Bloom
body: Hi [@Ana Retamal](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1067288),

I was wondering if you had any info regarding those follow up questions I posted above? I have still held off from continuing the process, because I am not entirely sure if #2 is going to cause more trouble for me or not.

Thank you  
Lester


author: Lester Bloom
body: Hi [@Ana Retamal](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1067288),  

I apologize for the repeated pings. I speculate that maybe this was lost over the holiday breaks. I am having issues with your instructions, and had some follow up questions.  

1) My real issue is that I added the submodule to the incorrect path. I was planning on deleting the submodule and then re-creating it. Is it instead possible to move the submodule? I noticed the paths in the .gitmodules; can I edit those? (FYI, I tried this before asking and it didn't work, but maybe I am doing something wrong)  

2) I have multiple submodules, and after editing the .gitmodules file, by hand, all my other submodules disappear from sourcetree. Is that expected behavior? I have not completed your steps because I wanted to wait for an answer to this before proceeding too far.  

Thank you for the assistance  
Lester


author: Brandon Valley
body: if you use git mv -k you can move whole directories that contain multiple git submodules


Tags: windows