How to Stash Changes in GitKraken Desktop

Last updated: January 2026

Save your uncommitted changes for later by creating a stash. Stashing is useful when you need to switch context quickly or test something without committing unfinished work.

Stash changes from the top toolbar

Click the Stash icon in the top toolbar to create a new stash.

GitKraken top toolbar with Stash button highlighted — Create a stash from the top toolbar.

Your stash will appear in the Commit Graph. Right-click on the stash node to see available options:

Apply Stash: Apply changes to your working directory and keep the stash.
Pop Stash: Apply changes and remove the stash.
Delete Stash: Permanently remove the stash.
Hide: Hide the stash from the graph.
Hide all stashes: Hide all stashes from the graph.
Show all stashes: Display all hidden stashes.

Right-click stash options menu in GitKraken Desktop showing Apply, Pop, Delete, and visibility controls — Right-click a stash to manage it.

To quickly pop the latest stash, use the Pop Stash button:

Top toolbar in GitKraken Desktop with Pop Stash button highlighted — Use the Pop Stash button for one-click restore and delete.

Stash from the Commit Panel

You can stash changes from the Commit Panel. Stage your files and click the Stash icon (instead of Commit).

Commit Panel's stash tab with input for name and description, and a Stash Changes button — Stage files and click the Stash icon to save changes.

If you use GitKraken AI, click the sparkle icon to auto-generate a stash message based on your staged changes.

GitKraken Stash panel (inside Commit Panel) with tooltip pointing to the AI icon for generating a stash message — Use GitKraken AI to generate a stash description.

View and manage stashes from the Left Panel

All your stashes are listed in the Left Panel. Right-click to Apply, Pop, Delete, Hide, or Show them.

Stash management menu in GitKraken's Left Panel showing options like Apply, Pop, Delete, and Share stash — Review and manage your stashes from the Left Panel.

Name a stash

To give a stash a name, type into the // WIP field at the top of the graph before stashing.

User typing a custom stash name in the GitKraken commit graph WIP node — Enter a custom stash name before saving.

Named stashes are easier to recognize in the Left Panel and commit graph.

Custom-named stash labeled 'my-custom-stash-name' displayed under STASHES in the GitKraken Left Panel on the master branch — Named stash in the Left Panel.

Commit Graph showing a WIP stash labeled 'my-custom-stash-name' created on the master branch. — Named stash in the graph view.

Edit a stash message

To update a stash description, right-click the stash in the graph or the Left Panel, then select Edit stash message.

Commit Graph showing a stash selected on the feature branch with the context menu open and 'Edit stash message' highlighted. — Edit a stash message from the context menu.

Create and apply a partial stash

Stash specific files by right-clicking them in the Staged Files panel and selecting Stash file. This clears their changes and saves them to a partial stash.

Context menu showing the option to stash two selected unstaged files from the Commit Panel. — Select individual files to stash partially.

You can also apply changes from a partial stash one file at a time. Right-click a file in the Commit Panel while a stash is selected.

Commit Panel showing context menu option to apply two selected files from stash. — Apply part of a stash by selecting specific files.

Tips for partial stashes

Name a partial stash via the // WIP node or summary field before stashing.
Hold Shift or Ctrl to select multiple files.
Applying a file from a stash doesn’t remove it from the stash.

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