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If a branch that exists in your repository doesn’t appear in the web editor’s branch dropdown, the branch is not deleted. The dropdown intentionally lists only:
  • Branches created in the web editor that don’t have a merged or closed pull request.
  • Branches with an open pull request or merge request targeting your deployment branch.
These branches don’t appear in the dropdown:
  • Branches pushed directly to GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket without an open pull request.
  • Branches whose pull request has been merged or closed, including branches created in the web editor. A branch leaves the dropdown when its pull request is merged, even if the branch still exists in your repository.
  • Branches with a pull request that targets a branch other than your deployment branch.
  • Branches with a pull request opened from a fork. See Preview deployment not created for a fork branch for related fork limitations.
Your work on these branches is safe in your repository. You can confirm this by viewing the branch in your Git provider.

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Open a branch that isn’t listed

Open a pull request or merge request for the branch against your deployment branch, from a branch in the same repository rather than a fork. The branch then appears in the editor’s branch dropdown with full editor support. If you need to view or edit the branch before opening a pull request, open any branch in the editor, then replace the branch name in your browser’s URL with the name of the branch you want. The editor loads that branch, but branch-specific features are unavailable until a pull request exists: automatic commits are skipped, the review view can’t load a diff, and you can’t rename or delete the branch from the editor. For more on creating and switching branches, see Work with branches.

Related topics

GitHubGitLabWork with branches