Recovering Data From Source Control Using Azure Repos

When working with Azure Repos, you can leverage the full power of Git along with a rich web interface to recover lost or deleted data. Whether you prefer command-line operations or a GUI, Azure DevOps provides the tools you need.

Ensure you have a local clone of your Azure Repos repository and the latest Git version installed. You will also need sufficient permissions to push changes back to the remote.

1. Recovering with Git commands

All standard Git recovery commands work seamlessly with Azure Repos. Here are common scenarios:

Recovery Task	Git Command	Description
Undo a specific commit	`git revert <commit>`	Creates a new commit that reverses the changes in `<commit>`.
Reset working directory	`git reset --hard HEAD`	Discards all uncommitted changes in your working tree.
Recover a deleted branch	`git reflog` → `git branch <branch> <commit>`	Locate the commit in reflog and recreate the branch.

Example: Recover a deleted branch named feature-x

# Step 1: Identify the lost branch reference
git reflog

# Step 2: Recreate the branch at the desired commit (e.g., abc1234)
git branch feature-x abc1234

# Step 3: Push the restored branch to Azure Repos
git push origin feature-x

Avoid using git push --force on shared branches—it can overwrite history and disrupt other collaborators. Use --force-with-lease when you need safer history rewrites.

2. Restoring deleted branches in the Azure Repos UI

If you prefer a visual approach, Azure Repos provides a point-and-click interface to restore branches:

In Azure DevOps, navigate to Repos > Branches.
Toggle Show deleted branches in the filter bar.
Search for the branch name (e.g., dev).
Click Restore next to the deleted branch.

The image shows a screenshot of Azure Repos with a section for recovering deleted branches, highlighting a deleted "dev" branch. It includes a note about restoring branches by searching for their names.

No matter which method you choose—Git CLI or Azure Repos UI—you can quickly recover commits, branches, and deleted data with confidence. Next, we’ll explore how to purge sensitive or unwanted data from your source control to meet security and compliance requirements.

References

Watch Video

Recovering Data by Using Git Commands

Purge Data from Source Control

Introduction

Configure Activity Traceability and Flow of Work

Configure Collaboration & Communication

Work with Azure Repos and GitHub

Configuring and Managing Repositories

Design and Implement Pipeline Automation

Design and Implement Pipelines

Implementing an Orchestration Automation Solution

Design and Implement Deployments

Design and Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Maintain Pipelines

Design and Implement Authentication and Authorization Methods

Design and Implement a Strategy for Managing Sensitive Information in Automation

Implement Security and Validate Code Bases for Compliance

Configure Monitoring for a DevOps Environment

Analyze Metrics

Branching Strategies for Source Code

Design and Implement a Package Management Strategy

Recovering Data From Source Control Using Azure Repos

1. Recovering with Git commands

2. Restoring deleted branches in the Azure Repos UI

References

Watch Video

​1. Recovering with Git commands

​2. Restoring deleted branches in the Azure Repos UI

​References

Watch Video

1. Recovering with Git commands

2. Restoring deleted branches in the Azure Repos UI

References