From 00d8920498fcc5dff2989f869fdaac2ed9f42d17 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Harald Nordgren <haraldnordgren@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:14:05 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 1/4] stash: add --ours-label, --theirs-label, --base-label for
 apply

Allow callers of "git stash apply" to pass custom labels for conflict
markers instead of the default "Updated upstream" and "Stashed changes".
Document the new options and add a test.

Signed-off-by: Harald Nordgren <haraldnordgren@gmail.com>
---
 Documentation/git-stash.adoc | 11 ++++++++++-
 builtin/stash.c              |  2 +-
 t/t3903-stash.sh             | 18 ++++++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 29 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/git-stash.adoc b/Documentation/git-stash.adoc
index 235d57ddd8f5d1..43650a3c1a092f 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-stash.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/git-stash.adoc
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ git stash list [<log-options>]
 git stash show [-u | --include-untracked | --only-untracked] [<diff-options>] [<stash>]
 git stash drop [-q | --quiet] [<stash>]
 git stash pop [--index] [-q | --quiet] [<stash>]
-git stash apply [--index] [-q | --quiet] [<stash>]
+git stash apply [--index] [-q | --quiet] [--ours-label=<label>] [--theirs-label=<label>] [--base-label=<label>] [<stash>]
 git stash branch <branchname> [<stash>]
 git stash [push [-p | --patch] [-S | --staged] [-k | --[no-]keep-index] [-q | --quiet]
 	     [-u | --include-untracked] [-a | --all] [(-m | --message) <message>]
@@ -197,6 +197,15 @@ the index's ones. However, this can fail, when you have conflicts
 (which are stored in the index, where you therefore can no longer
 apply the changes as they were originally).
 
+`--ours-label=<label>`::
+`--theirs-label=<label>`::
+`--base-label=<label>`::
+	These options are only valid for the `apply` command.
++
+Use the given labels in conflict markers instead of the default
+"Updated upstream", "Stashed changes", and "Stash base".
+`--base-label` only has an effect with merge.conflictStyle=diff3.
+
 `-k`::
 `--keep-index`::
 `--no-keep-index`::
diff --git a/builtin/stash.c b/builtin/stash.c
index e79d612e572e7c..252e4df3a99623 100644
--- a/builtin/stash.c
+++ b/builtin/stash.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 #define BUILTIN_STASH_POP_USAGE \
 	N_("git stash pop [--index] [-q | --quiet] [<stash>]")
 #define BUILTIN_STASH_APPLY_USAGE \
-	N_("git stash apply [--index] [-q | --quiet] [<stash>]")
+	N_("git stash apply [--index] [-q | --quiet] [--ours-label=<label>] [--theirs-label=<label>] [--base-label=<label>] [<stash>]")
 #define BUILTIN_STASH_BRANCH_USAGE \
 	N_("git stash branch <branchname> [<stash>]")
 #define BUILTIN_STASH_STORE_USAGE \
diff --git a/t/t3903-stash.sh b/t/t3903-stash.sh
index 70879941c22f8c..dd47c1322a860a 100755
--- a/t/t3903-stash.sh
+++ b/t/t3903-stash.sh
@@ -1666,6 +1666,24 @@ test_expect_success 'restore untracked files even when we hit conflicts' '
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'apply with custom conflict labels' '
+	git init conflict_labels &&
+	(
+		cd conflict_labels &&
+		echo base >file &&
+		git add file &&
+		git commit -m base &&
+		echo stashed >file &&
+		git stash push -m "stashed" &&
+		echo upstream >file &&
+		git add file &&
+		git commit -m upstream &&
+		test_must_fail git stash apply --ours-label=UP --theirs-label=STASH &&
+		grep "^<<<<<<< UP" file &&
+		grep "^>>>>>>> STASH" file
+	)
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'stash create reports a locked index' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -rf repo" &&
 	git init repo &&

From 5d176f1700ce1f8e8f38af1af9ce8fc5823dc4c8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Harald Nordgren <haraldnordgren@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:21:36 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 2/4] sequencer: allow create_autostash to run silently

Add a silent parameter to create_autostash_internal and introduce
create_autostash_ref_silent so that callers can create an autostash
without printing the "Created autostash" message.  Use stderr for
the message when not silent.

Signed-off-by: Harald Nordgren <haraldnordgren@gmail.com>
---
 sequencer.c | 15 +++++++++++----
 sequencer.h |  1 +
 2 files changed, 12 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index aafd0bc959664a..eebefd731bc620 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -4632,7 +4632,8 @@ static enum todo_command peek_command(struct todo_list *todo_list, int offset)
 
 static void create_autostash_internal(struct repository *r,
 				      const char *path,
-				      const char *refname)
+				      const char *refname,
+				      int silent)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
@@ -4677,7 +4678,8 @@ static void create_autostash_internal(struct repository *r,
 					&oid, null_oid(the_hash_algo), 0, UPDATE_REFS_DIE_ON_ERR);
 		}
 
-		printf(_("Created autostash: %s\n"), buf.buf);
+		if (!silent)
+			fprintf(stderr, _("Created autostash: %s\n"), buf.buf);
 		if (reset_head(r, &ropts) < 0)
 			die(_("could not reset --hard"));
 		discard_index(r->index);
@@ -4689,12 +4691,17 @@ static void create_autostash_internal(struct repository *r,
 
 void create_autostash(struct repository *r, const char *path)
 {
-	create_autostash_internal(r, path, NULL);
+	create_autostash_internal(r, path, NULL, 0);
 }
 
 void create_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname)
 {
-	create_autostash_internal(r, NULL, refname);
+	create_autostash_internal(r, NULL, refname, 0);
+}
+
+void create_autostash_ref_silent(struct repository *r, const char *refname)
+{
+	create_autostash_internal(r, NULL, refname, 1);
 }
 
 static int apply_save_autostash_oid(const char *stash_oid, int attempt_apply)
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 719684c8a9fb2e..0b09d6799b3e0f 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ void commit_post_rewrite(struct repository *r,
 
 void create_autostash(struct repository *r, const char *path);
 void create_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname);
+void create_autostash_ref_silent(struct repository *r, const char *refname);
 int save_autostash(const char *path);
 int save_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname);
 int apply_autostash(const char *path);

From 3d6829438a561d79e6b8996297e3b6505f07ac3d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Harald Nordgren <haraldnordgren@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:23:59 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 3/4] sequencer: teach autostash apply to take optional
 conflict marker labels

Add label1, label2, and label_ancestor parameters to the autostash
apply machinery so callers can pass custom conflict marker labels
through to "git stash apply --ours-label/--theirs-label/--base-label".
Introduce apply_autostash_ref_with_labels() for callers that want
to pass labels.

Signed-off-by: Harald Nordgren <haraldnordgren@gmail.com>
---
 sequencer.c | 34 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 sequencer.h |  3 +++
 2 files changed, 30 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index eebefd731bc620..080a25820a8359 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -4704,7 +4704,9 @@ void create_autostash_ref_silent(struct repository *r, const char *refname)
 	create_autostash_internal(r, NULL, refname, 1);
 }
 
-static int apply_save_autostash_oid(const char *stash_oid, int attempt_apply)
+static int apply_save_autostash_oid(const char *stash_oid, int attempt_apply,
+				    const char *label1, const char *label2,
+				    const char *label_ancestor)
 {
 	struct child_process child = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 	int ret = 0;
@@ -4715,6 +4717,12 @@ static int apply_save_autostash_oid(const char *stash_oid, int attempt_apply)
 		child.no_stderr = 1;
 		strvec_push(&child.args, "stash");
 		strvec_push(&child.args, "apply");
+		if (label1)
+			strvec_pushf(&child.args, "--ours-label=%s", label1);
+		if (label2)
+			strvec_pushf(&child.args, "--theirs-label=%s", label2);
+		if (label_ancestor)
+			strvec_pushf(&child.args, "--base-label=%s", label_ancestor);
 		strvec_push(&child.args, stash_oid);
 		ret = run_command(&child);
 	}
@@ -4759,7 +4767,8 @@ static int apply_save_autostash(const char *path, int attempt_apply)
 	}
 	strbuf_trim(&stash_oid);
 
-	ret = apply_save_autostash_oid(stash_oid.buf, attempt_apply);
+	ret = apply_save_autostash_oid(stash_oid.buf, attempt_apply,
+				      NULL, NULL, NULL);
 
 	unlink(path);
 	strbuf_release(&stash_oid);
@@ -4778,11 +4787,13 @@ int apply_autostash(const char *path)
 
 int apply_autostash_oid(const char *stash_oid)
 {
-	return apply_save_autostash_oid(stash_oid, 1);
+	return apply_save_autostash_oid(stash_oid, 1, NULL, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
 static int apply_save_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname,
-				    int attempt_apply)
+				    int attempt_apply,
+				    const char *label1, const char *label2,
+				    const char *label_ancestor)
 {
 	struct object_id stash_oid;
 	char stash_oid_hex[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1];
@@ -4798,7 +4809,8 @@ static int apply_save_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname,
 		return error(_("autostash reference is a symref"));
 
 	oid_to_hex_r(stash_oid_hex, &stash_oid);
-	ret = apply_save_autostash_oid(stash_oid_hex, attempt_apply);
+	ret = apply_save_autostash_oid(stash_oid_hex, attempt_apply,
+				       label1, label2, label_ancestor);
 
 	refs_delete_ref(get_main_ref_store(r), "", refname,
 			&stash_oid, REF_NO_DEREF);
@@ -4808,12 +4820,20 @@ static int apply_save_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname,
 
 int save_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname)
 {
-	return apply_save_autostash_ref(r, refname, 0);
+	return apply_save_autostash_ref(r, refname, 0, NULL, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
 int apply_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname)
 {
-	return apply_save_autostash_ref(r, refname, 1);
+	return apply_save_autostash_ref(r, refname, 1, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+}
+
+int apply_autostash_ref_with_labels(struct repository *r, const char *refname,
+				    const char *label1, const char *label2,
+				    const char *label_ancestor)
+{
+	return apply_save_autostash_ref(r, refname, 1,
+					label1, label2, label_ancestor);
 }
 
 static int checkout_onto(struct repository *r, struct replay_opts *opts,
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 0b09d6799b3e0f..68b94d86e3d23b 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -233,6 +233,9 @@ int save_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname);
 int apply_autostash(const char *path);
 int apply_autostash_oid(const char *stash_oid);
 int apply_autostash_ref(struct repository *r, const char *refname);
+int apply_autostash_ref_with_labels(struct repository *r, const char *refname,
+				    const char *label1, const char *label2,
+				    const char *label_ancestor);
 
 #define SUMMARY_INITIAL_COMMIT   (1 << 0)
 #define SUMMARY_SHOW_AUTHOR_DATE (1 << 1)

From 7f3735d40ef9045595085064340676cc6058e627 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Harald Nordgren <haraldnordgren@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:41:31 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 4/4] checkout: -m (--merge) uses autostash when switching
 branches

When switching branches with "git checkout -m", local modifications
can block the switch.  Teach the -m flow to create a temporary stash
before switching and reapply it after.  On success, only "Applied
autostash." is shown.  If reapplying causes conflicts, the stash is
kept and the user is told they can resolve and run "git stash drop",
or run "git reset --hard" and later "git stash pop" to recover their
changes.

Signed-off-by: Harald Nordgren <haraldnordgren@gmail.com>
---
 Documentation/git-checkout.adoc |  58 +++++-----
 Documentation/git-switch.adoc   |  27 ++---
 builtin/checkout.c              | 180 ++++++++++++++++++--------------
 builtin/stash.c                 |  30 ++++--
 sequencer.c                     |  18 +++-
 t/t3420-rebase-autostash.sh     |  24 +++--
 t/t7201-co.sh                   | 160 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 t/t7600-merge.sh                |   2 +-
 xdiff-interface.c               |  12 +++
 xdiff-interface.h               |   1 +
 10 files changed, 376 insertions(+), 136 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/git-checkout.adoc b/Documentation/git-checkout.adoc
index 43ccf47cf6de28..18022e610ed63a 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-checkout.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/git-checkout.adoc
@@ -251,20 +251,19 @@ working tree, by copying them from elsewhere, extracting a tarball, etc.
 	are different between the current branch and the branch to
 	which you are switching, the command refuses to switch
 	branches in order to preserve your modifications in context.
-	However, with this option, a three-way merge between the current
-	branch, your working tree contents, and the new branch
-	is done, and you will be on the new branch.
-+
-When a merge conflict happens, the index entries for conflicting
-paths are left unmerged, and you need to resolve the conflicts
-and mark the resolved paths with `git add` (or `git rm` if the merge
-should result in deletion of the path).
+	With this option, the conflicting local changes are
+	automatically stashed before the switch and reapplied
+	afterwards.  If the local changes do not overlap with the
+	differences between branches, the switch proceeds without
+	stashing.  If reapplying the stash results in conflicts, the
+	entry is saved to the stash list.  Resolve the conflicts
+	and run `git stash drop` when done, or clear the working
+	tree (e.g. with `git reset --hard`) before running `git stash
+	pop` later to re-apply your changes.
 +
 When checking out paths from the index, this option lets you recreate
 the conflicted merge in the specified paths.  This option cannot be
 used when checking out paths from a tree-ish.
-+
-When switching branches with `--merge`, staged changes may be lost.
 
 `--conflict=<style>`::
 	The same as `--merge` option above, but changes the way the
@@ -578,39 +577,44 @@ $ git checkout mytopic
 error: You have local changes to 'frotz'; not switching branches.
 ------------
 
-You can give the `-m` flag to the command, which would try a
-three-way merge:
+You can give the `-m` flag to the command, which would carry your local
+changes to the new branch:
 
 ------------
 $ git checkout -m mytopic
-Auto-merging frotz
+Switched to branch 'mytopic'
 ------------
 
-After this three-way merge, the local modifications are _not_
+After the switch, the local modifications are reapplied and are _not_
 registered in your index file, so `git diff` would show you what
 changes you made since the tip of the new branch.
 
 === 3. Merge conflict
 
-When a merge conflict happens during switching branches with
-the `-m` option, you would see something like this:
+When the `--merge` (`-m`) option is in effect and the locally
+modified files overlap with files that need to be updated by the
+branch switch, the changes are stashed and reapplied after the
+switch.  If the stash application results in conflicts, they are not
+resolved and the stash is saved to the stash list:
 
 ------------
 $ git checkout -m mytopic
-Auto-merging frotz
-ERROR: Merge conflict in frotz
-fatal: merge program failed
-------------
+Your local changes are stashed, however, applying it to carry
+forward your local changes resulted in conflicts:
 
-At this point, `git diff` shows the changes cleanly merged as in
-the previous example, as well as the changes in the conflicted
-files.  Edit and resolve the conflict and mark it resolved with
-`git add` as usual:
+ - You can try resolving them now.  If you resolved them
+   successfully, discard the stash entry with "git stash drop".
 
+ - Alternatively you can "git reset --hard" if you do not want
+   to deal with them right now, and later "git stash pop" to
+   recover your local changes.
 ------------
-$ edit frotz
-$ git add frotz
-------------
+
+You can try resolving the conflicts now.  Edit the conflicting files
+and mark them resolved with `git add` as usual, then run `git stash
+drop` to discard the stash entry.  Alternatively, you can clear the
+working tree with `git reset --hard` and recover your local changes
+later with `git stash pop`.
 
 CONFIGURATION
 -------------
diff --git a/Documentation/git-switch.adoc b/Documentation/git-switch.adoc
index 87707e92652064..3147023dc3de40 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-switch.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/git-switch.adoc
@@ -126,15 +126,16 @@ variable.
 	If you have local modifications to one or more files that are
 	different between the current branch and the branch to which
 	you are switching, the command refuses to switch branches in
-	order to preserve your modifications in context.  However,
-	with this option, a three-way merge between the current
-	branch, your working tree contents, and the new branch is
-	done, and you will be on the new branch.
-+
-When a merge conflict happens, the index entries for conflicting
-paths are left unmerged, and you need to resolve the conflicts
-and mark the resolved paths with `git add` (or `git rm` if the merge
-should result in deletion of the path).
+	order to preserve your modifications in context.  With this
+	option, the conflicting local changes are automatically
+	stashed before the switch and reapplied afterwards.  If the
+	local changes do not overlap with the differences between
+	branches, the switch proceeds without stashing.  If
+	reapplying the stash results in conflicts, the entry is
+	saved to the stash list.  Resolve the conflicts and run
+	`git stash drop` when done, or clear the working tree
+	(e.g. with `git reset --hard`) before running `git stash pop`
+	later to re-apply your changes.
 
 `--conflict=<style>`::
 	The same as `--merge` option above, but changes the way the
@@ -217,15 +218,15 @@ $ git switch mytopic
 error: You have local changes to 'frotz'; not switching branches.
 ------------
 
-You can give the `-m` flag to the command, which would try a three-way
-merge:
+You can give the `-m` flag to the command, which would carry your local
+changes to the new branch:
 
 ------------
 $ git switch -m mytopic
-Auto-merging frotz
+Switched to branch 'mytopic'
 ------------
 
-After this three-way merge, the local modifications are _not_
+After the switch, the local modifications are reapplied and are _not_
 registered in your index file, so `git diff` would show you what
 changes you made since the tip of the new branch.
 
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 1d1667fa4c73c8..db93eabd9b8431 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 #include "merge-ll.h"
 #include "lockfile.h"
 #include "mem-pool.h"
-#include "merge-ort-wrappers.h"
 #include "object-file.h"
 #include "object-name.h"
 #include "odb.h"
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "repo-settings.h"
 #include "resolve-undo.h"
 #include "revision.h"
+#include "sequencer.h"
 #include "setup.h"
 #include "submodule.h"
 #include "symlinks.h"
@@ -845,83 +845,8 @@ static int merge_working_tree(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 
 		ret = unpack_trees(2, trees, &topts);
 		clear_unpack_trees_porcelain(&topts);
-		if (ret == -1) {
-			/*
-			 * Unpack couldn't do a trivial merge; either
-			 * give up or do a real merge, depending on
-			 * whether the merge flag was used.
-			 */
-			struct tree *work;
-			struct tree *old_tree;
-			struct merge_options o;
-			struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
-			struct strbuf old_commit_shortname = STRBUF_INIT;
-
-			if (!opts->merge)
-				return 1;
-
-			/*
-			 * Without old_branch_info->commit, the below is the same as
-			 * the two-tree unpack we already tried and failed.
-			 */
-			if (!old_branch_info->commit)
-				return 1;
-			old_tree = repo_get_commit_tree(the_repository,
-							old_branch_info->commit);
-
-			if (repo_index_has_changes(the_repository, old_tree, &sb))
-				die(_("cannot continue with staged changes in "
-				      "the following files:\n%s"), sb.buf);
-			strbuf_release(&sb);
-
-			/* Do more real merge */
-
-			/*
-			 * We update the index fully, then write the
-			 * tree from the index, then merge the new
-			 * branch with the current tree, with the old
-			 * branch as the base. Then we reset the index
-			 * (but not the working tree) to the new
-			 * branch, leaving the working tree as the
-			 * merged version, but skipping unmerged
-			 * entries in the index.
-			 */
-
-			add_files_to_cache(the_repository, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0,
-					0, 0);
-			init_ui_merge_options(&o, the_repository);
-			o.verbosity = 0;
-			work = write_in_core_index_as_tree(the_repository);
-
-			ret = reset_tree(new_tree,
-					 opts, 1,
-					 writeout_error, new_branch_info);
-			if (ret)
-				return ret;
-			o.ancestor = old_branch_info->name;
-			if (!old_branch_info->name) {
-				strbuf_add_unique_abbrev(&old_commit_shortname,
-							 &old_branch_info->commit->object.oid,
-							 DEFAULT_ABBREV);
-				o.ancestor = old_commit_shortname.buf;
-			}
-			o.branch1 = new_branch_info->name;
-			o.branch2 = "local";
-			o.conflict_style = opts->conflict_style;
-			ret = merge_ort_nonrecursive(&o,
-						     new_tree,
-						     work,
-						     old_tree);
-			if (ret < 0)
-				die(NULL);
-			ret = reset_tree(new_tree,
-					 opts, 0,
-					 writeout_error, new_branch_info);
-			strbuf_release(&o.obuf);
-			strbuf_release(&old_commit_shortname);
-			if (ret)
-				return ret;
-		}
+		if (ret == -1)
+			return 1;
 	}
 
 	if (!cache_tree_fully_valid(the_repository->index->cache_tree))
@@ -1157,6 +1082,55 @@ static void orphaned_commit_warning(struct commit *old_commit, struct commit *ne
 	release_revisions(&revs);
 }
 
+static int checkout_would_clobber_changes(struct branch_info *old_branch_info,
+					  struct branch_info *new_branch_info)
+{
+	struct tree_desc trees[2];
+	struct tree *old_tree, *new_tree;
+	struct unpack_trees_options topts;
+	struct index_state tmp_index = INDEX_STATE_INIT(the_repository);
+	const struct object_id *old_commit_oid;
+	int ret;
+
+	if (!new_branch_info->commit)
+		return 0;
+
+	old_commit_oid = old_branch_info->commit ?
+		&old_branch_info->commit->object.oid :
+		the_hash_algo->empty_tree;
+	old_tree = repo_parse_tree_indirect(the_repository, old_commit_oid);
+	if (!old_tree)
+		return 0;
+
+	new_tree = repo_get_commit_tree(the_repository,
+					new_branch_info->commit);
+	if (!new_tree)
+		return 0;
+	if (repo_parse_tree(the_repository, new_tree) < 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	memset(&topts, 0, sizeof(topts));
+	topts.head_idx = -1;
+	topts.src_index = the_repository->index;
+	topts.dst_index = &tmp_index;
+	topts.initial_checkout = is_index_unborn(the_repository->index);
+	topts.merge = 1;
+	topts.update = 1;
+	topts.dry_run = 1;
+	topts.quiet = 1;
+	topts.fn = twoway_merge;
+
+	init_tree_desc(&trees[0], &old_tree->object.oid,
+		       old_tree->buffer, old_tree->size);
+	init_tree_desc(&trees[1], &new_tree->object.oid,
+		       new_tree->buffer, new_tree->size);
+
+	ret = unpack_trees(2, trees, &topts);
+	discard_index(&tmp_index);
+
+	return ret != 0;
+}
+
 static int switch_branches(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 			   struct branch_info *new_branch_info)
 {
@@ -1165,6 +1139,9 @@ static int switch_branches(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	struct object_id rev;
 	int flag, writeout_error = 0;
 	int do_merge = 1;
+	int created_autostash = 0;
+	struct strbuf old_commit_shortname = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char *stash_label_ancestor = NULL;
 
 	trace2_cmd_mode("branch");
 
@@ -1202,10 +1179,36 @@ static int switch_branches(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 			do_merge = 0;
 	}
 
+	if (old_branch_info.name)
+		stash_label_ancestor = old_branch_info.name;
+	else if (old_branch_info.commit) {
+		strbuf_add_unique_abbrev(&old_commit_shortname,
+					 &old_branch_info.commit->object.oid,
+					 DEFAULT_ABBREV);
+		stash_label_ancestor = old_commit_shortname.buf;
+	}
+
+	if (opts->merge) {
+		if (repo_read_index(the_repository) < 0)
+			die(_("index file corrupt"));
+		if (checkout_would_clobber_changes(&old_branch_info,
+						   new_branch_info)) {
+			create_autostash_ref_silent(the_repository,
+						   "CHECKOUT_AUTOSTASH");
+			created_autostash = 1;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (do_merge) {
 		ret = merge_working_tree(opts, &old_branch_info, new_branch_info, &writeout_error);
 		if (ret) {
+			apply_autostash_ref_with_labels(the_repository,
+						       "CHECKOUT_AUTOSTASH",
+						       new_branch_info->name,
+						       "local",
+						       stash_label_ancestor);
 			branch_info_release(&old_branch_info);
+			strbuf_release(&old_commit_shortname);
 			return ret;
 		}
 	}
@@ -1215,8 +1218,29 @@ static int switch_branches(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 
 	update_refs_for_switch(opts, &old_branch_info, new_branch_info);
 
+	if (opts->conflict_style >= 0) {
+		struct strbuf cfg = STRBUF_INIT;
+		strbuf_addf(&cfg, "merge.conflictStyle=%s",
+			    conflict_style_name(opts->conflict_style));
+		git_config_push_parameter(cfg.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&cfg);
+	}
+	apply_autostash_ref_with_labels(the_repository, "CHECKOUT_AUTOSTASH",
+				       new_branch_info->name, "local",
+				       stash_label_ancestor);
+
+	discard_index(the_repository->index);
+	if (repo_read_index(the_repository) < 0)
+		die(_("index file corrupt"));
+
+	if (created_autostash && !opts->discard_changes && !opts->quiet &&
+	    new_branch_info->commit)
+		show_local_changes(&new_branch_info->commit->object,
+				   &opts->diff_options);
+
 	ret = post_checkout_hook(old_branch_info.commit, new_branch_info->commit, 1);
 	branch_info_release(&old_branch_info);
+	strbuf_release(&old_commit_shortname);
 
 	return ret || writeout_error;
 }
diff --git a/builtin/stash.c b/builtin/stash.c
index 252e4df3a99623..ab9c1359b1f53c 100644
--- a/builtin/stash.c
+++ b/builtin/stash.c
@@ -590,8 +590,11 @@ static void unstage_changes_unless_new(struct object_id *orig_tree)
 		die(_("could not write index"));
 }
 
-static int do_apply_stash(const char *prefix, struct stash_info *info,
-			  int index, int quiet)
+static int do_apply_stash_with_labels(const char *prefix,
+				      struct stash_info *info,
+				      int index, int quiet,
+				      const char *label1, const char *label2,
+				      const char *label_ancestor)
 {
 	int clean, ret;
 	int has_index = index;
@@ -643,9 +646,9 @@ static int do_apply_stash(const char *prefix, struct stash_info *info,
 
 	init_ui_merge_options(&o, the_repository);
 
-	o.branch1 = "Updated upstream";
-	o.branch2 = "Stashed changes";
-	o.ancestor = "Stash base";
+	o.branch1 = label1 ? label1 : "Updated upstream";
+	o.branch2 = label2 ? label2 : "Stashed changes";
+	o.ancestor = label_ancestor ? label_ancestor : "Stash base";
 
 	if (oideq(&info->b_tree, &c_tree))
 		o.branch1 = "Version stash was based on";
@@ -717,17 +720,31 @@ static int do_apply_stash(const char *prefix, struct stash_info *info,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static int do_apply_stash(const char *prefix, struct stash_info *info,
+			  int index, int quiet)
+{
+	return do_apply_stash_with_labels(prefix, info, index, quiet,
+					  NULL, NULL, NULL);
+}
+
 static int apply_stash(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix,
 		       struct repository *repo UNUSED)
 {
 	int ret = -1;
 	int quiet = 0;
 	int index = use_index;
+	const char *label1 = NULL, *label2 = NULL, *label_ancestor = NULL;
 	struct stash_info info = STASH_INFO_INIT;
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT__QUIET(&quiet, N_("be quiet, only report errors")),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "index", &index,
 			 N_("attempt to recreate the index")),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "ours-label", &label1, N_("label"),
+			   N_("label for the upstream side in conflict markers")),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "theirs-label", &label2, N_("label"),
+			   N_("label for the stashed side in conflict markers")),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "base-label", &label_ancestor, N_("label"),
+			   N_("label for the base in diff3 conflict markers")),
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
@@ -737,7 +754,8 @@ static int apply_stash(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix,
 	if (get_stash_info(&info, argc, argv))
 		goto cleanup;
 
-	ret = do_apply_stash(prefix, &info, index, quiet);
+	ret = do_apply_stash_with_labels(prefix, &info, index, quiet,
+					 label1, label2, label_ancestor);
 cleanup:
 	free_stash_info(&info);
 	return ret;
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 080a25820a8359..53e04d8a94ea36 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -4741,15 +4741,23 @@ static int apply_save_autostash_oid(const char *stash_oid, int attempt_apply,
 		strvec_push(&store.args, stash_oid);
 		if (run_command(&store))
 			ret = error(_("cannot store %s"), stash_oid);
+		else if (attempt_apply)
+			fprintf(stderr,
+				_("Your local changes are stashed, however, applying it to carry\n"
+				  "forward your local changes resulted in conflicts:\n"
+				  "\n"
+				  " - You can try resolving them now.  If you resolved them\n"
+				  "   successfully, discard the stash entry with \"git stash drop\".\n"
+				  "\n"
+				  " - Alternatively you can \"git reset --hard\" if you do not want\n"
+				  "   to deal with them right now, and later \"git stash pop\" to\n"
+				  "   recover your local changes.\n"));
 		else
 			fprintf(stderr,
-				_("%s\n"
+				_("Autostash exists; creating a new stash entry.\n"
 				  "Your changes are safe in the stash.\n"
 				  "You can run \"git stash pop\" or"
-				  " \"git stash drop\" at any time.\n"),
-				attempt_apply ?
-				_("Applying autostash resulted in conflicts.") :
-				_("Autostash exists; creating a new stash entry."));
+				  " \"git stash drop\" at any time.\n"));
 	}
 
 	return ret;
diff --git a/t/t3420-rebase-autostash.sh b/t/t3420-rebase-autostash.sh
index ad3ba6a9848f8a..e4e2cb19ce2db2 100755
--- a/t/t3420-rebase-autostash.sh
+++ b/t/t3420-rebase-autostash.sh
@@ -61,18 +61,30 @@ create_expected_failure_apply () {
 	First, rewinding head to replay your work on top of it...
 	Applying: second commit
 	Applying: third commit
-	Applying autostash resulted in conflicts.
-	Your changes are safe in the stash.
-	You can run "git stash pop" or "git stash drop" at any time.
+	Your local changes are stashed, however, applying it to carry
+	forward your local changes resulted in conflicts:
+
+	 - You can try resolving them now.  If you resolved them
+	   successfully, discard the stash entry with "git stash drop".
+
+	 - Alternatively you can "git reset --hard" if you do not want
+	   to deal with them right now, and later "git stash pop" to
+	   recover your local changes.
 	EOF
 }
 
 create_expected_failure_merge () {
 	cat >expected <<-EOF
 	$(grep "^Created autostash: [0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*\$" actual)
-	Applying autostash resulted in conflicts.
-	Your changes are safe in the stash.
-	You can run "git stash pop" or "git stash drop" at any time.
+	Your local changes are stashed, however, applying it to carry
+	forward your local changes resulted in conflicts:
+
+	 - You can try resolving them now.  If you resolved them
+	   successfully, discard the stash entry with "git stash drop".
+
+	 - Alternatively you can "git reset --hard" if you do not want
+	   to deal with them right now, and later "git stash pop" to
+	   recover your local changes.
 	Successfully rebased and updated refs/heads/rebased-feature-branch.
 	EOF
 }
diff --git a/t/t7201-co.sh b/t/t7201-co.sh
index 9bcf7c0b40461f..f4fea7bb7a771e 100755
--- a/t/t7201-co.sh
+++ b/t/t7201-co.sh
@@ -210,6 +210,166 @@ test_expect_success 'checkout --merge --conflict=diff3 <branch>' '
 	test_cmp expect two
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'checkout --merge --conflict=zdiff3 <branch>' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git reset --hard &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill a b X d e >two &&
+	git checkout --merge --conflict=zdiff3 simple &&
+
+	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
+	a
+	<<<<<<< simple
+	c
+	||||||| main
+	b
+	c
+	d
+	=======
+	b
+	X
+	d
+	>>>>>>> local
+	e
+	EOF
+	test_cmp expect two
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m respects merge.conflictStyle config' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git reset --hard &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	test_config merge.conflictStyle diff3 &&
+	fill b d >two &&
+	git checkout -m simple &&
+
+	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
+	<<<<<<< simple
+	a
+	c
+	e
+	||||||| main
+	a
+	b
+	c
+	d
+	e
+	=======
+	b
+	d
+	>>>>>>> local
+	EOF
+	test_cmp expect two
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m skips stash when no conflict' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill 0 x y z >same &&
+	git checkout -m side >actual 2>&1 &&
+	test_grep ! "Created autostash" actual &&
+	fill 0 x y z >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect same
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m skips stash with non-conflicting dirty index' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill 0 x y z >same &&
+	git add same &&
+	git checkout -m side >actual 2>&1 &&
+	test_grep ! "Created autostash" actual &&
+	fill 0 x y z >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect same
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m stashes and applies on conflicting changes' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >one &&
+	git checkout -m side >actual 2>&1 &&
+	test_grep ! "Created autostash" actual &&
+	test_grep "Applied autostash" actual &&
+	fill 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect one
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m with mixed staged and unstaged changes' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill 0 x y z >same &&
+	git add same &&
+	fill 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >one &&
+	git checkout -m side >actual 2>&1 &&
+	test_grep ! "Created autostash" actual &&
+	test_grep "Applied autostash" actual &&
+	fill 0 x y z >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect same &&
+	fill 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect one
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m stashes on truly conflicting changes' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill 1 2 3 4 5 >one &&
+	test_must_fail git checkout side 2>stderr &&
+	test_grep "Your local changes" stderr &&
+	git checkout -m side >actual 2>&1 &&
+	test_grep ! "Created autostash" actual &&
+	test_grep "resulted in conflicts" actual &&
+	test_grep "git stash drop" actual &&
+	git stash drop &&
+	git reset --hard
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m produces usable stash on conflict' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill 1 2 3 4 5 >one &&
+	git checkout -m side >actual 2>&1 &&
+	test_grep "recover your local changes" actual &&
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git stash pop &&
+	fill 1 2 3 4 5 >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect one
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m stashes on staged conflicting changes' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill 1 2 3 4 5 >one &&
+	git add one &&
+	git checkout -m side >actual 2>&1 &&
+	test_grep ! "Created autostash" actual &&
+	test_grep "resulted in conflicts" actual &&
+	test_grep "git stash drop" actual &&
+	git stash drop &&
+	git reset --hard
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout -m -b skips stash with dirty tree' '
+	git checkout -f main &&
+	git clean -f &&
+
+	fill 0 x y z >same &&
+	git checkout -m -b newbranch >actual 2>&1 &&
+	test_grep ! "Created autostash" actual &&
+	fill 0 x y z >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect same &&
+	git checkout main &&
+	git branch -D newbranch
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'switch to another branch while carrying a deletion' '
 	git checkout -f main &&
 	git reset --hard &&
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 9838094b66ac39..cbef8a534ebedc 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge with conflicted --autostash changes' '
 	git diff >expect &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git stash drop" &&
 	git merge --autostash c3 2>err &&
-	test_grep "Applying autostash resulted in conflicts." err &&
+	test_grep "your local changes resulted in conflicts" err &&
 	git show HEAD:file >merge-result &&
 	test_cmp result.1-9 merge-result &&
 	git stash show -p >actual &&
diff --git a/xdiff-interface.c b/xdiff-interface.c
index f043330f2a12a0..5ee2b96d0a756f 100644
--- a/xdiff-interface.c
+++ b/xdiff-interface.c
@@ -325,6 +325,18 @@ int parse_conflict_style_name(const char *value)
 		return -1;
 }
 
+const char *conflict_style_name(int style)
+{
+	switch (style) {
+	case XDL_MERGE_DIFF3:
+		return "diff3";
+	case XDL_MERGE_ZEALOUS_DIFF3:
+		return "zdiff3";
+	default:
+		return "merge";
+	}
+}
+
 int git_xmerge_style = -1;
 
 int git_xmerge_config(const char *var, const char *value,
diff --git a/xdiff-interface.h b/xdiff-interface.h
index fbc4ceec40eff5..ce54e1c0e002f8 100644
--- a/xdiff-interface.h
+++ b/xdiff-interface.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ void xdiff_set_find_func(xdemitconf_t *xecfg, const char *line, int cflags);
 void xdiff_clear_find_func(xdemitconf_t *xecfg);
 struct config_context;
 int parse_conflict_style_name(const char *value);
+const char *conflict_style_name(int style);
 int git_xmerge_config(const char *var, const char *value,
 		      const struct config_context *ctx, void *cb);
 extern int git_xmerge_style;