git remove a tracked file code example

Example 1: git ignore still tracking

git rm --cached <file>

git rm -r --cached <folder>

Example 2: git remove from from repo and stop tracking

Update your . gitignore file – for instance, add a folder you don't want to track to . gitignore .
git rm -r --cached . – Remove all tracked files, including wanted and unwanted. Your code will be safe as long as you have saved locally.
git add . – All files will be added back in, except those in . gitignore .