GitKraken Desktop Documentation

Interactive Rebase

Last updated: May 2025

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.


Start an Interactive Rebase

To begin:

  • Drag and drop one branch onto another
  • Or right-click a target branch and select Interactive Rebase
Start interactive rebase via drag-and-drop or right-click

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)

Note: If you start the rebase in GitKraken Desktop, you must complete it there.


Commit Actions

Pick

Moves the commit onto the target branch as-is.

Pick applies the commit without modifications

Reword

Opens a modal to edit the commit summary and description.

Reword lets you update the commit message

Squash

Combines the selected commit into its parent.

Squash merges the commit into the one above

Drop

Removes the commit entirely and rewrites the graph.

Drop deletes the commit from history

Shortcuts and Reset

Use these keyboard shortcuts during rebase:

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

To undo all changes during setup, click .

Use Reset to cancel changes and start over
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