This quick guide will show you how to easily revert a rebase to a previous soft reset commit in just a few steps.

Why Does This Matter?

Sometimes, when you’re trying to clean up your Git history or resolve conflicts, you might realize that a rebase didn’t work out as you expected. Instead of starting from scratch or losing your progress, you can easily revert to a previous commit and save yourself time. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Retrieve the Commit Hash Using Git Reflog

Git keeps track of your actions, even if you’ve already performed a reset. This is where Git’s Reflog comes into play — it maintains a log of all the changes you’ve made to your repository.

To start, you’ll need the hash of the previous commit where you want to revert. Open your terminal and run the following command.

This command shows a list of all the recent actions in your Git repository, including commits, rebases, and resets.

git reflog

Copy the git commit hash

Once the list appears, locate and copy the commit hash that corresponds to the previous soft reset.

Step 2: Reset to the Previous Commit

Now that you have the commit hash, the next step is to use Git’s reset command. The soft reset is especially useful because it preserves your working directory and index, allowing you to revert your Git history without losing any uncommitted changes.

Run the following command, replacing <commit_hash> with the hash you copied earlier:

git reset --soft <commit_hash>

Bonus Git Tips

Use git reflog to track any mistakes, even after a reset.

Practice using git reset — soft to save time when you want to roll back but keep changes in your working directory.

Feel free to share this guide or drop any questions in the comments below. If you’re hungry for more Git wisdom, check out my other blog posts on Git strategies and tips for seamless version control. Happy coding!