Detached HEAD in GitKraken Desktop

Last updated: February 2026

Detached HEAD state lets you check out any commit in GitKraken Desktop without creating a branch. This is useful for reviewing or experimenting with past changes without affecting your active branches.

Quick Start

Use GitKraken Desktop to enter, work in, and safely exit detached HEAD state.

To enter detached HEAD state:

1. Right-click any commit in the Commit Graph.
2. Select Checkout this commit. The commit will display a HEAD label.

To preserve commits made in detached HEAD state:

1. Right-click the commit labeled HEAD.
2. Select Create branch here and name the new branch.

To exit detached HEAD state:

• Double-click any local branch in the graph or Left Panel to check it out.

Any commits made in detached HEAD state that were not saved to a branch will be removed when you switch branches. If you switch branches before creating a branch, use the Undo button if available, or run git reflog in the terminal to find the lost commit SHA and re-check it out with git checkout <SHA>.

Enter Detached HEAD State

1. Right-click the commit you want to inspect.
2. Select Checkout this commit.

The checked-out commit will display a HEAD label, indicating you’re in detached HEAD state.

You can now review the full history and diffs, or create a branch from this state.

Commit in Detached HEAD State

You can make changes and commit them while in this state. However, these commits won’t belong to any branch.

To preserve your work, create a branch from the current commit:

1. Right-click the commit tagged as HEAD.
2. Select Create branch here.

Exit Detached HEAD State

To exit detached HEAD state:

• Check out any local branch.

This will remove the HEAD label and discard any unpreserved commits.

Recover Lost Commits

If you accidentally switch branches before saving your changes:

• Click Undo in GitKraken if available.
• Use the CLI and run git reflog to find the lost commit SHA.
• Then use git checkout <SHA> to re-enter that state.