The delete command performs a full teardown of a worktree: kills its tmux session, removes the git worktree, and clears status tracking data.
Usage
bash
owt delete <name> [OPTIONS]Alias: owt rm
Arguments
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
name | Worktree name or branch name to delete |
Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-f, --force | Force deletion even with uncommitted changes |
-y, --yes | Skip confirmation prompt |
Examples
Basic Deletion
bash
owt delete add-authOutput:
Delete worktree 'add-auth'? [y/N] y
✓ Killed tmux session: owt-add-auth
✓ Removed worktree at /Users/you/projects/my-app-add-auth
✓ Cleared status tracking
✓ Worktree deleted successfullySkip Confirmation
bash
owt delete add-auth --yesForce Delete with Uncommitted Changes
bash
owt delete add-auth --forceWarning: This discards any uncommitted changes in the worktree.
Combine Flags
bash
# Force delete without confirmation
owt delete add-auth -f -yWhat Gets Deleted
When you delete a worktree, Open Orchestrator performs a full teardown:
- tmux session -- Killed if it exists
- Git worktree -- Directory and git reference removed
- Status tracking -- All tracking data cleared
The git branch itself is NOT deleted. Your commits remain in the repository.
Safety Checks
Cannot Delete Main Worktree
Error: Cannot delete the main worktreeThe main worktree is always protected from deletion.
Uncommitted Changes
By default, deletion fails if the worktree has uncommitted changes:
Error: Worktree has uncommitted changes. Use --force to override.Options:
- Commit or stash your changes first
- Use
--forceto discard changes
Recovering After Deletion
Git data (commits, branches) are NOT deleted. The branch still exists:
bash
# Check that the branch still exists
git branch -a | grep add-auth
# Recreate the worktree from the existing branch
owt new "continue auth work" --branch feature/add-authSee Also
owt cleanup-- Remove multiple stale worktreesowt merge-- Merge and auto-cleanupowt list-- List worktrees