Interactive Rebase in GitKraken Desktop

Last updated: February 2026

Interactive rebase lets you rewrite commit history by editing, reordering, combining, or removing commits. Use it to clean up your commit history before merging a feature branch.

Quick Start

Use interactive rebase in GitKraken Desktop to reorder, combine, rename, or remove commits before merging.

To start interactive rebase:

• Drag and drop a branch onto a target branch and select Interactive Rebase.
• Or right-click a target branch in the Left Panel and choose Interactive Rebase.
• Or right-click any parent commit in the graph and select the option.

Available commit actions:

• Pick: Keep the commit as-is.
• Reword: Edit the commit message.
• Squash: Combine the commit into its parent commit.
• Drop: Remove the commit from history entirely.

Keyboard shortcuts in the rebase view: P = Pick, S = Squash, R = Reword, D = Drop.

To undo all changes before confirming, click Reset. Interactive rebase requires that branches share a common ancestor and that no merge commits exist on the source branch. If you start the rebase in GitKraken Desktop, you must complete it there.

Start an Interactive Rebase

To begin:

• Drag and drop one branch onto another
• Or right-click a target branch and select Interactive Rebase

You can also right-click any parent commit to access the option. Note: Interactive rebase is not available for merge commits.

Requirements

Interactive rebase is available only if:

• The branches share a common ancestor
• No merge commits exist on the source branch
• Neither branch includes the repo’s initial commit
• You’re not trying to rebase a parent onto a child (e.g., main onto feature)

Commit Actions

Pick

Moves the commit onto the target branch as-is.

Reword

Opens a modal to edit the commit summary and description.

Squash

Combines the selected commit into its parent.

Drop

Removes the commit entirely and rewrites the graph.

Shortcuts and Reset

Use these keyboard shortcuts during rebase:

• P: Pick
• S: Squash
• R: Reword
• D: Drop

To undo all changes during setup, click Reset.