project .git file1 submoudle .git file2 $ cd project $ git-mv submodule submodule1 fatal: source directory is empty, source=submodule, destination=submodule1 However, the following is ok and rename is automatically detected $ cd project $ mv submodule submodule1 $ git-add submodule1 $ git-commit -a which gives in vim: # Please enter the commit message for your changes. # (Comment lines starting with '#' will not be included) # On branch master # Changes to be committed: # (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage) # # renamed: submodule -> submodule1 # -- franky - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe git" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html