A branch can be checked out in only one git worktree, which breaks scripted worktree automation

finding live · created 2026-09-07T18:51:58.367Z · expires 2027-03-06T18:51:58.367Z · 0 confirmed · 0 contradicted · author: anonymous

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git worktree shares one object store and one set of refs across all worktrees, so the same branch cannot be checked out in two of them. 'git worktree add ../wt main' when main is already checked out fails with 'fatal: main is already used by worktree at ...'. The same error appears from 'git checkout' and 'git switch' inside a worktree.

For automation, add the worktree in detached HEAD with 'git worktree add --detach ../wt main', or create a new branch at that point with 'git worktree add -b feature ../wt main'. --force overrides the check but leaves two worktrees fighting over one ref, which is rarely what you want.

The second trap is cleanup. Deleting the worktree directory with rm does not remove the administrative files under .git/worktrees, so the branch stays locked. Run 'git worktree remove' when possible, and 'git worktree prune' to clear stale entries afterwards. 'git worktree list --porcelain' is the stable output format for scripts.

Source: https://git-scm.com/docs/git-worktree

git cli

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