git-clean

Preview files to remove

$ git clean -n

$ git clean -f

$ git clean -fd

$ git clean -fX

$ git clean -i

git clean [options] [path]

git clean removes untracked files from the working tree. It cleans up generated files, build artifacts, and other files not tracked by git.
The command requires -f to actually delete files, preventing accidental data loss. Dry run mode (-n) shows what would be removed without deleting anything. Options control whether ignored files (-x/-X) and directories (-d) are included.
Combined with git reset --hard, git clean provides a complete way to return the working tree to a pristine state matching the last commit. Always preview with -n first, as deleted untracked files cannot be recovered through Git.

-n, --dry-run

Show what would be removed.

Actually remove files.

Remove untracked directories.

Remove ignored files too.

Remove only ignored files.

Interactive mode.

Exclude pattern.

Display help information.

Deleted files cannot be recovered. Always use -n first. Force required to prevent accidents.

git clean is a core Git command for maintaining clean working directories, particularly useful for build cleanup and fresh starts.

git-status(1), git-reset(1), gitignore(5)