| title | Create a branch to track code changes |
|---|---|
| description | Create a branch for source code control in Visual Studio with Git based off an existing branch for your project or solution. |
| ms.date | 3/8/2026 |
| ms.topic | how-to |
| author | ghogen |
| ms.author | ghogen |
| ms.subservice | general-ide |
It's easy to create a new branch in Visual Studio; all you have to do is base it off an existing branch.
Here's how.
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To start, make sure you've got a previously created or cloned repo open.
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From the Git menu, select New Branch.
:::moniker range="visualstudio" :::image type="content" source="media/visualstudio/git-menu-new-branch.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the New Branch option in the Git menu."::: :::moniker-end :::moniker range="vs-2022" :::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/git-menu-new-branch.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the New Branch option in the Git menu."::: :::moniker-end
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In the Create a new branch dialog box, enter a branch name.
[!TIP] For branch naming details, see Special characters in branch and tag names.
:::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/git-create-new-branch-dialog.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Create a New Branch dialog box.":::
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In the Based on section, use the drop-down list to choose whether you want to base your new branch off an existing local branch or a remote branch.
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The Checkout branch checkbox, which is on by default, automatically switches to the newly created branch. Toggle this option if you want to remain in the current branch.
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The Track remote branch checkbox, which only appears if you select Remote in the Based on section, is selected by default if the remote has a matching branch name. If the branch is intended to be a local version of the remote branch, this should be selected; otherwise, clear the checkbox. See Remote branches.
There you have it; you've created a new branch.
Tip
The equivalent command for this action is git checkout -b <new-branch> <existing-branch>.