How do I list all tags on the remote?

Use `git ls-remote --tags origin` to display every tag stored on the remote repository.

Will a lightweight tag be fetched with `git fetch --tags`?

Yes, `git fetch --tags` retrieves both annotated and lightweight tags that exist on the remote.

2026-10-02 · Q&A guide

How to Retrieve a Missing Remote Git Tag

Learn why a pushed tag may not appear locally and how to fetch it.

Why Tags Aren’t Pulled Automatically

Tags are separate refs, not part of branch history. A standard `git pull` (fetch + merge) only brings tags that are reachable from the fetched branches. If a tag points to a commit that no branch references, it stays on the remote.

Verifying Remote Tags

Use `git ls-remote --tags origin` to see all tags stored on the remote. This command lists tag names and their SHA‑1 hashes, confirming the tag exists on the server.

git ls-remote --tags origin

Fetching Missing Tags

To bring a tag into your local repo, run one of the following:

git fetch --tags
# or fetch a single tag
git fetch origin tag v1.27.1:refs/tags/v1.27.1

Practical Commands

After fetching, list local tags with `git tag -l`. If you want every remote tag automatically, set:

git config --global remote.origin.tagopt --tags

Best Practices

Create annotated tags (`git tag -a v1.27.1 -m "Release 1.27.1"`) so they carry metadata. Push with `git push origin v1.27.1`. Regularly run `git fetch --tags` or enable automatic tag fetching to keep local refs in sync.

Takeaway: Run `git fetch --tags` or fetch the specific tag to sync remote tags.