diff --git a/models/git/branch.go b/models/git/branch.go
index 6d50fb9fb6a18..ffd1d7ed164a0 100644
--- a/models/git/branch.go
+++ b/models/git/branch.go
@@ -205,10 +205,9 @@ func DeleteBranches(ctx context.Context, repoID, doerID int64, branchIDs []int64
 	})
 }
 
-// UpdateBranch updates the branch information in the database. If the branch exist, it will update latest commit of this branch information
-// If it doest not exist, insert a new record into database
-func UpdateBranch(ctx context.Context, repoID, pusherID int64, branchName string, commit *git.Commit) error {
-	cnt, err := db.GetEngine(ctx).Where("repo_id=? AND name=?", repoID, branchName).
+// UpdateBranch updates the branch information in the database.
+func UpdateBranch(ctx context.Context, repoID, pusherID int64, branchName string, commit *git.Commit) (int64, error) {
+	return db.GetEngine(ctx).Where("repo_id=? AND name=?", repoID, branchName).
 		Cols("commit_id, commit_message, pusher_id, commit_time, is_deleted, updated_unix").
 		Update(&Branch{
 			CommitID:      commit.ID.String(),
@@ -217,21 +216,6 @@ func UpdateBranch(ctx context.Context, repoID, pusherID int64, branchName string
 			CommitTime:    timeutil.TimeStamp(commit.Committer.When.Unix()),
 			IsDeleted:     false,
 		})
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if cnt > 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	return db.Insert(ctx, &Branch{
-		RepoID:        repoID,
-		Name:          branchName,
-		CommitID:      commit.ID.String(),
-		CommitMessage: commit.Summary(),
-		PusherID:      pusherID,
-		CommitTime:    timeutil.TimeStamp(commit.Committer.When.Unix()),
-	})
 }
 
 // AddDeletedBranch adds a deleted branch to the database
@@ -308,6 +292,17 @@ func RenameBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, from, to str
 
 	sess := db.GetEngine(ctx)
 
+	var branch Branch
+	exist, err := db.GetEngine(ctx).Where("repo_id=? AND name=?", repo.ID, from).Get(&branch)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	} else if !exist || branch.IsDeleted {
+		return ErrBranchNotExist{
+			RepoID:     repo.ID,
+			BranchName: from,
+		}
+	}
+
 	// 1. update branch in database
 	if n, err := sess.Where("repo_id=? AND name=?", repo.ID, from).Update(&Branch{
 		Name: to,
diff --git a/models/git/branch_list.go b/models/git/branch_list.go
index b5c1301a1dc00..2efe495264abe 100644
--- a/models/git/branch_list.go
+++ b/models/git/branch_list.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ type FindBranchOptions struct {
 	Keyword            string
 }
 
-func (opts *FindBranchOptions) Cond() builder.Cond {
+func (opts FindBranchOptions) ToConds() builder.Cond {
 	cond := builder.NewCond()
 	if opts.RepoID > 0 {
 		cond = cond.And(builder.Eq{"repo_id": opts.RepoID})
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func (opts *FindBranchOptions) Cond() builder.Cond {
 }
 
 func CountBranches(ctx context.Context, opts FindBranchOptions) (int64, error) {
-	return db.GetEngine(ctx).Where(opts.Cond()).Count(&Branch{})
+	return db.GetEngine(ctx).Where(opts.ToConds()).Count(&Branch{})
 }
 
 func orderByBranches(sess *xorm.Session, opts FindBranchOptions) *xorm.Session {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func orderByBranches(sess *xorm.Session, opts FindBranchOptions) *xorm.Session {
 }
 
 func FindBranches(ctx context.Context, opts FindBranchOptions) (BranchList, error) {
-	sess := db.GetEngine(ctx).Where(opts.Cond())
+	sess := db.GetEngine(ctx).Where(opts.ToConds())
 	if opts.PageSize > 0 && !opts.IsListAll() {
 		sess = db.SetSessionPagination(sess, &opts.ListOptions)
 	}
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func FindBranches(ctx context.Context, opts FindBranchOptions) (BranchList, erro
 }
 
 func FindBranchNames(ctx context.Context, opts FindBranchOptions) ([]string, error) {
-	sess := db.GetEngine(ctx).Select("name").Where(opts.Cond())
+	sess := db.GetEngine(ctx).Select("name").Where(opts.ToConds())
 	if opts.PageSize > 0 && !opts.IsListAll() {
 		sess = db.SetSessionPagination(sess, &opts.ListOptions)
 	}
diff --git a/models/git/branch_test.go b/models/git/branch_test.go
index ba6902692792e..07b243e5e6e92 100644
--- a/models/git/branch_test.go
+++ b/models/git/branch_test.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func TestAddDeletedBranch(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	err := git_model.UpdateBranch(db.DefaultContext, repo.ID, secondBranch.PusherID, secondBranch.Name, commit)
+	_, err := git_model.UpdateBranch(db.DefaultContext, repo.ID, secondBranch.PusherID, secondBranch.Name, commit)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
index f2386a607e657..677105bdb506c 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
@@ -251,12 +251,11 @@ func CreateBranch(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	err = repo_service.CreateNewBranchFromCommit(ctx, ctx.Doer, ctx.Repo.Repository, oldCommit.ID.String(), opt.BranchName)
+	err = repo_service.CreateNewBranchFromCommit(ctx, ctx.Doer, ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.GitRepo, oldCommit.ID.String(), opt.BranchName)
 	if err != nil {
 		if git_model.IsErrBranchNotExist(err) {
 			ctx.Error(http.StatusNotFound, "", "The old branch does not exist")
-		}
-		if models.IsErrTagAlreadyExists(err) {
+		} else if models.IsErrTagAlreadyExists(err) {
 			ctx.Error(http.StatusConflict, "", "The branch with the same tag already exists.")
 		} else if git_model.IsErrBranchAlreadyExists(err) || git.IsErrPushOutOfDate(err) {
 			ctx.Error(http.StatusConflict, "", "The branch already exists.")
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/branch.go b/routers/web/repo/branch.go
index bc72d5f2eca17..a0bc1dadade8b 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/branch.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/branch.go
@@ -191,9 +191,9 @@ func CreateBranch(ctx *context.Context) {
 		}
 		err = release_service.CreateNewTag(ctx, ctx.Doer, ctx.Repo.Repository, target, form.NewBranchName, "")
 	} else if ctx.Repo.IsViewBranch {
-		err = repo_service.CreateNewBranch(ctx, ctx.Doer, ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.BranchName, form.NewBranchName)
+		err = repo_service.CreateNewBranch(ctx, ctx.Doer, ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.GitRepo, ctx.Repo.BranchName, form.NewBranchName)
 	} else {
-		err = repo_service.CreateNewBranchFromCommit(ctx, ctx.Doer, ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.CommitID, form.NewBranchName)
+		err = repo_service.CreateNewBranchFromCommit(ctx, ctx.Doer, ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.GitRepo, ctx.Repo.CommitID, form.NewBranchName)
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		if models.IsErrProtectedTagName(err) {
diff --git a/services/repository/branch.go b/services/repository/branch.go
index 735fa1a756816..6dc286675f3d6 100644
--- a/services/repository/branch.go
+++ b/services/repository/branch.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/queue"
 	repo_module "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/repository"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/timeutil"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/util"
 	notify_service "code.gitea.io/gitea/services/notify"
 	files_service "code.gitea.io/gitea/services/repository/files"
@@ -28,35 +29,13 @@ import (
 )
 
 // CreateNewBranch creates a new repository branch
-func CreateNewBranch(ctx context.Context, doer *user_model.User, repo *repo_model.Repository, oldBranchName, branchName string) (err error) {
-	err = repo.MustNotBeArchived()
+func CreateNewBranch(ctx context.Context, doer *user_model.User, repo *repo_model.Repository, gitRepo *git.Repository, oldBranchName, branchName string) (err error) {
+	branch, err := git_model.GetBranch(ctx, repo.ID, oldBranchName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Check if branch name can be used
-	if err := checkBranchName(ctx, repo, branchName); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if !git.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.RepoPath(), oldBranchName) {
-		return git_model.ErrBranchNotExist{
-			BranchName: oldBranchName,
-		}
-	}
-
-	if err := git.Push(ctx, repo.RepoPath(), git.PushOptions{
-		Remote: repo.RepoPath(),
-		Branch: fmt.Sprintf("%s%s:%s%s", git.BranchPrefix, oldBranchName, git.BranchPrefix, branchName),
-		Env:    repo_module.PushingEnvironment(doer, repo),
-	}); err != nil {
-		if git.IsErrPushOutOfDate(err) || git.IsErrPushRejected(err) {
-			return err
-		}
-		return fmt.Errorf("push: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return CreateNewBranchFromCommit(ctx, doer, repo, gitRepo, branch.CommitID, branchName)
 }
 
 // Branch contains the branch information
@@ -249,8 +228,49 @@ func checkBranchName(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, name stri
 	return err
 }
 
+// syncBranchToDB sync the branch information in the database. It will try to update the branch first,
+// if updated success with affect records > 0, then all are done. Because that means the branch has been in the database.
+// If no record is affected, that means the branch does not exist in database. So there are two possibilities.
+// One is this is a new branch, then we just need to insert the record. Another is the branches haven't been synced,
+// then we need to sync all the branches into database.
+func syncBranchToDB(ctx context.Context, repoID, pusherID int64, branchName string, commit *git.Commit) error {
+	cnt, err := git_model.UpdateBranch(ctx, repoID, pusherID, branchName, commit)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("git_model.UpdateBranch %d:%s failed: %v", repoID, branchName, err)
+	}
+	if cnt > 0 { // This means branch does exist, so it's a normal update. It also means the branch has been synced.
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// if user haven't visit UI but directly push to a branch after upgrading from 1.20 -> 1.21,
+	// we cannot simply insert the branch but need to check we have branches or not
+	hasBranch, err := db.Exist[git_model.Branch](ctx, git_model.FindBranchOptions{
+		RepoID:          repoID,
+		IsDeletedBranch: util.OptionalBoolFalse,
+	}.ToConds())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if !hasBranch {
+		if _, err = repo_module.SyncRepoBranches(ctx, repoID, pusherID); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("repo_module.SyncRepoBranches %d:%s failed: %v", repoID, branchName, err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// if database have branches but not this branch, it means this is a new branch
+	return db.Insert(ctx, &git_model.Branch{
+		RepoID:        repoID,
+		Name:          branchName,
+		CommitID:      commit.ID.String(),
+		CommitMessage: commit.Summary(),
+		PusherID:      pusherID,
+		CommitTime:    timeutil.TimeStamp(commit.Committer.When.Unix()),
+	})
+}
+
 // CreateNewBranchFromCommit creates a new repository branch
-func CreateNewBranchFromCommit(ctx context.Context, doer *user_model.User, repo *repo_model.Repository, commit, branchName string) (err error) {
+func CreateNewBranchFromCommit(ctx context.Context, doer *user_model.User, repo *repo_model.Repository, gitRepo *git.Repository, commitID, branchName string) (err error) {
 	err = repo.MustNotBeArchived()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -261,18 +281,28 @@ func CreateNewBranchFromCommit(ctx context.Context, doer *user_model.User, repo
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := git.Push(ctx, repo.RepoPath(), git.PushOptions{
-		Remote: repo.RepoPath(),
-		Branch: fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s%s", commit, git.BranchPrefix, branchName),
-		Env:    repo_module.PushingEnvironment(doer, repo),
-	}); err != nil {
-		if git.IsErrPushOutOfDate(err) || git.IsErrPushRejected(err) {
+	return db.WithTx(ctx, func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		commit, err := gitRepo.GetCommit(commitID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		// database operation should be done before git operation so that we can rollback if git operation failed
+		if err := syncBranchToDB(ctx, repo.ID, doer.ID, branchName, commit); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		return fmt.Errorf("push: %w", err)
-	}
 
-	return nil
+		if err := git.Push(ctx, repo.RepoPath(), git.PushOptions{
+			Remote: repo.RepoPath(),
+			Branch: fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s%s", commitID, git.BranchPrefix, branchName),
+			Env:    repo_module.PushingEnvironment(doer, repo),
+		}); err != nil {
+			if git.IsErrPushOutOfDate(err) || git.IsErrPushRejected(err) {
+				return err
+			}
+			return fmt.Errorf("push: %w", err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
 }
 
 // RenameBranch rename a branch
diff --git a/services/repository/push.go b/services/repository/push.go
index 391c8ad4ca7f1..b5388834c0bd1 100644
--- a/services/repository/push.go
+++ b/services/repository/push.go
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ func pushUpdates(optsList []*repo_module.PushUpdateOptions) error {
 					commits.Commits = commits.Commits[:setting.UI.FeedMaxCommitNum]
 				}
 
-				if err = git_model.UpdateBranch(ctx, repo.ID, opts.PusherID, branch, newCommit); err != nil {
+				if err = syncBranchToDB(ctx, repo.ID, opts.PusherID, branch, newCommit); err != nil {
 					return fmt.Errorf("git_model.UpdateBranch %s:%s failed: %v", repo.FullName(), branch, err)
 				}
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/api_repo_get_contents_list_test.go b/tests/integration/api_repo_get_contents_list_test.go
index f3a5159115c18..7874eddfd4d19 100644
--- a/tests/integration/api_repo_get_contents_list_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/api_repo_get_contents_list_test.go
@@ -70,15 +70,16 @@ func testAPIGetContentsList(t *testing.T, u *url.URL) {
 	session = loginUser(t, user4.Name)
 	token4 := getTokenForLoggedInUser(t, session, auth_model.AccessTokenScopeReadRepository)
 
-	// Make a new branch in repo1
-	newBranch := "test_branch"
-	err := repo_service.CreateNewBranch(git.DefaultContext, user2, repo1, repo1.DefaultBranch, newBranch)
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	// Get the commit ID of the default branch
 	gitRepo, err := git.OpenRepository(git.DefaultContext, repo1.RepoPath())
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	defer gitRepo.Close()
 
+	// Make a new branch in repo1
+	newBranch := "test_branch"
+	err = repo_service.CreateNewBranch(git.DefaultContext, user2, repo1, gitRepo, repo1.DefaultBranch, newBranch)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
 	commitID, _ := gitRepo.GetBranchCommitID(repo1.DefaultBranch)
 	// Make a new tag in repo1
 	newTag := "test_tag"
diff --git a/tests/integration/api_repo_get_contents_test.go b/tests/integration/api_repo_get_contents_test.go
index 709bbe082a5a4..1d708a4cdb438 100644
--- a/tests/integration/api_repo_get_contents_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/api_repo_get_contents_test.go
@@ -72,15 +72,16 @@ func testAPIGetContents(t *testing.T, u *url.URL) {
 	session = loginUser(t, user4.Name)
 	token4 := getTokenForLoggedInUser(t, session, auth_model.AccessTokenScopeReadRepository)
 
-	// Make a new branch in repo1
-	newBranch := "test_branch"
-	err := repo_service.CreateNewBranch(git.DefaultContext, user2, repo1, repo1.DefaultBranch, newBranch)
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	// Get the commit ID of the default branch
 	gitRepo, err := git.OpenRepository(git.DefaultContext, repo1.RepoPath())
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	defer gitRepo.Close()
 
+	// Make a new branch in repo1
+	newBranch := "test_branch"
+	err = repo_service.CreateNewBranch(git.DefaultContext, user2, repo1, gitRepo, repo1.DefaultBranch, newBranch)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
 	commitID, err := gitRepo.GetBranchCommitID(repo1.DefaultBranch)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	// Make a new tag in repo1