diff --git a/lib/platform/github/__snapshots__/index.spec.ts.snap b/lib/platform/github/__snapshots__/index.spec.ts.snap
index ea29ddd14c88dc69c5219ebbe2501554d6dd64ad..364f976566650714cfe22337132cc5f573a28ce0 100644
--- a/lib/platform/github/__snapshots__/index.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/lib/platform/github/__snapshots__/index.spec.ts.snap
@@ -1873,400 +1873,6 @@ Array [
 ]
 `;
 
-exports[`platform/github getBranchPr(branchName) aborts reopening if PR reopening fails 1`] = `
-Array [
-  Object {
-    "graphql": Object {
-      "query": Object {
-        "repository": Object {
-          "__args": Object {
-            "name": "repo",
-            "owner": "some",
-          },
-          "defaultBranchRef": Object {
-            "name": null,
-            "target": Object {
-              "oid": null,
-            },
-          },
-          "isArchived": null,
-          "isFork": null,
-          "mergeCommitAllowed": null,
-          "nameWithOwner": null,
-          "rebaseMergeAllowed": null,
-          "squashMergeAllowed": null,
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "330",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/graphql",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/pulls?per_page=100&state=all",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "body": "{\\"ref\\":\\"refs/heads/somebranch\\"}",
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "31",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/git/refs",
-  },
-]
-`;
-
-exports[`platform/github getBranchPr(branchName) aborts reopening if branch recreation fails 1`] = `
-Array [
-  Object {
-    "graphql": Object {
-      "query": Object {
-        "repository": Object {
-          "__args": Object {
-            "name": "repo",
-            "owner": "some",
-          },
-          "defaultBranchRef": Object {
-            "name": null,
-            "target": Object {
-              "oid": null,
-            },
-          },
-          "isArchived": null,
-          "isFork": null,
-          "mergeCommitAllowed": null,
-          "nameWithOwner": null,
-          "rebaseMergeAllowed": null,
-          "squashMergeAllowed": null,
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "330",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/graphql",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/pulls?per_page=100&state=all",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "body": "{\\"ref\\":\\"refs/heads/somebranch\\"}",
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "31",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/git/refs",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "body": "{\\"state\\":\\"open\\",\\"title\\":\\"old title\\"}",
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "36",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "PATCH",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/pulls/91",
-  },
-]
-`;
-
-exports[`platform/github getBranchPr(branchName) should reopen an autoclosed PR 1`] = `
-Object {
-  "additions": 1,
-  "base": Object {
-    "sha": "1234",
-  },
-  "canMerge": false,
-  "canMergeReason": "mergeable = undefined",
-  "commits": 1,
-  "deletions": 1,
-  "displayNumber": "Pull Request #91",
-  "head": Object {
-    "ref": "somebranch",
-    "repo": Object {
-      "full_name": "some/repo",
-    },
-  },
-  "number": 91,
-  "sha": undefined,
-  "sourceBranch": "somebranch",
-  "state": "open",
-}
-`;
-
-exports[`platform/github getBranchPr(branchName) should reopen an autoclosed PR 2`] = `
-Array [
-  Object {
-    "graphql": Object {
-      "query": Object {
-        "repository": Object {
-          "__args": Object {
-            "name": "repo",
-            "owner": "some",
-          },
-          "defaultBranchRef": Object {
-            "name": null,
-            "target": Object {
-              "oid": null,
-            },
-          },
-          "isArchived": null,
-          "isFork": null,
-          "mergeCommitAllowed": null,
-          "nameWithOwner": null,
-          "rebaseMergeAllowed": null,
-          "squashMergeAllowed": null,
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "330",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/graphql",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/pulls?per_page=100&state=all",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "body": "{\\"ref\\":\\"refs/heads/somebranch\\"}",
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "31",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/git/refs",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "body": "{\\"state\\":\\"open\\",\\"title\\":\\"old title\\"}",
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "36",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "PATCH",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/pulls/91",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "graphql": Object {
-      "query": Object {
-        "repository": Object {
-          "__args": Object {
-            "name": "repo",
-            "owner": "some",
-          },
-          "pullRequests": Object {
-            "__args": Object {
-              "first": "100",
-            },
-            "nodes": Object {
-              "assignees": Object {
-                "totalCount": null,
-              },
-              "baseRefName": null,
-              "body": null,
-              "commits": Object {
-                "__args": Object {
-                  "first": "2",
-                },
-                "nodes": Object {
-                  "commit": Object {
-                    "author": Object {
-                      "email": null,
-                    },
-                    "committer": Object {
-                      "email": null,
-                    },
-                    "parents": Object {
-                      "__args": Object {
-                        "last": "1",
-                      },
-                      "edges": Object {
-                        "node": Object {
-                          "abbreviatedOid": null,
-                          "oid": null,
-                        },
-                      },
-                    },
-                  },
-                },
-              },
-              "headRefName": null,
-              "labels": Object {
-                "__args": Object {
-                  "last": "100",
-                },
-                "nodes": Object {
-                  "name": null,
-                },
-              },
-              "mergeStateStatus": null,
-              "mergeable": null,
-              "number": null,
-              "reviewRequests": Object {
-                "totalCount": null,
-              },
-              "reviews": Object {
-                "__args": Object {
-                  "first": "1",
-                },
-                "nodes": Object {
-                  "state": null,
-                },
-              },
-              "title": null,
-            },
-            "pageInfo": Object {
-              "endCursor": null,
-              "hasNextPage": null,
-            },
-          },
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.merge-info-preview+json, application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "1504",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/graphql",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "graphql": Object {
-      "query": Object {
-        "repository": Object {
-          "__args": Object {
-            "name": "repo",
-            "owner": "some",
-          },
-          "pullRequests": Object {
-            "__args": Object {
-              "first": "100",
-            },
-            "nodes": Object {
-              "comments": Object {
-                "__args": Object {
-                  "last": "100",
-                },
-                "nodes": Object {
-                  "body": null,
-                  "databaseId": null,
-                },
-              },
-              "headRefName": null,
-              "number": null,
-              "state": null,
-              "title": null,
-            },
-            "pageInfo": Object {
-              "endCursor": null,
-              "hasNextPage": null,
-            },
-          },
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "604",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/graphql",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "host": "api.github.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/some/repo/pulls/91",
-  },
-]
-`;
-
 exports[`platform/github getBranchPr(branchName) should return null if no PR exists 1`] = `
 Array [
   Object {
@@ -4593,6 +4199,70 @@ Array [
 ]
 `;
 
+exports[`platform/github massageMarkdown(input) returns not-updated pr body for GHE 1`] = `
+Array [
+  Object {
+    "headers": Object {
+      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
+      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
+      "authorization": "token abc123",
+      "host": "github.company.com",
+      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
+    },
+    "method": "GET",
+    "url": "https://github.company.com/user",
+  },
+  Object {
+    "headers": Object {
+      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
+      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
+      "authorization": "token abc123",
+      "host": "github.company.com",
+      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
+    },
+    "method": "GET",
+    "url": "https://github.company.com/user/emails",
+  },
+  Object {
+    "graphql": Object {
+      "query": Object {
+        "repository": Object {
+          "__args": Object {
+            "name": "repo",
+            "owner": "some",
+          },
+          "defaultBranchRef": Object {
+            "name": null,
+            "target": Object {
+              "oid": null,
+            },
+          },
+          "isArchived": null,
+          "isFork": null,
+          "mergeCommitAllowed": null,
+          "nameWithOwner": null,
+          "rebaseMergeAllowed": null,
+          "squashMergeAllowed": null,
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    "headers": Object {
+      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
+      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
+      "authorization": "token abc123",
+      "content-length": "330",
+      "content-type": "application/json",
+      "host": "github.company.com",
+      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
+    },
+    "method": "POST",
+    "url": "https://github.company.com/graphql",
+  },
+]
+`;
+
+exports[`platform/github massageMarkdown(input) returns updated pr body 1`] = `"https://github.com/foo/bar/issues/5 plus also [a link](https://togithub.com/foo/bar/issues/5)"`;
+
 exports[`platform/github getRepoForceRebase should detect repoForceRebase 1`] = `
 Array [
   Object {
@@ -5665,70 +5335,6 @@ Array [
 ]
 `;
 
-exports[`platform/github massageMarkdown(input) returns not-updated pr body for GHE 1`] = `
-Array [
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "host": "github.company.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://github.company.com/user",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "host": "github.company.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://github.company.com/user/emails",
-  },
-  Object {
-    "graphql": Object {
-      "query": Object {
-        "repository": Object {
-          "__args": Object {
-            "name": "repo",
-            "owner": "some",
-          },
-          "defaultBranchRef": Object {
-            "name": null,
-            "target": Object {
-              "oid": null,
-            },
-          },
-          "isArchived": null,
-          "isFork": null,
-          "mergeCommitAllowed": null,
-          "nameWithOwner": null,
-          "rebaseMergeAllowed": null,
-          "squashMergeAllowed": null,
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "authorization": "token abc123",
-      "content-length": "330",
-      "content-type": "application/json",
-      "host": "github.company.com",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "POST",
-    "url": "https://github.company.com/graphql",
-  },
-]
-`;
-
-exports[`platform/github massageMarkdown(input) returns updated pr body 1`] = `"https://github.com/foo/bar/issues/5 plus also [a link](https://togithub.com/foo/bar/issues/5)"`;
-
 exports[`platform/github mergePr(prNo) - autodetection should give up 1`] = `
 Array [
   Object {
diff --git a/lib/platform/github/index.spec.ts b/lib/platform/github/index.spec.ts
index d85d0c818fed4b0b312386aff0f8ca05ff1cc4f8..0199d5cfe8091691a4ffa815065d959214d82b8a 100644
--- a/lib/platform/github/index.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/platform/github/index.spec.ts
@@ -519,101 +519,6 @@ describe('platform/github', () => {
       expect(pr).toMatchSnapshot();
       expect(httpMock.getTrace()).toMatchSnapshot();
     });
-    it('should reopen an autoclosed PR', async () => {
-      const scope = httpMock.scope(githubApiHost);
-      initRepoMock(scope, 'some/repo');
-      scope
-        .post('/graphql')
-        .twice() // getOpenPrs() and getClosedPrs()
-        .reply(200, {
-          data: { repository: { pullRequests: { pageInfo: {} } } },
-        })
-        .get('/repos/some/repo/pulls?per_page=100&state=all')
-        .reply(200, [
-          {
-            number: 90,
-            head: { ref: 'somebranch', repo: { full_name: 'other/repo' } },
-            state: PrState.Open,
-          },
-          {
-            number: 91,
-            head: { ref: 'somebranch', repo: { full_name: 'some/repo' } },
-            title: 'old title - autoclosed',
-            state: PrState.Closed,
-          },
-        ])
-        .post('/repos/some/repo/git/refs')
-        .reply(201)
-        .patch('/repos/some/repo/pulls/91')
-        .reply(201)
-        .get('/repos/some/repo/pulls/91')
-        .reply(200, {
-          number: 91,
-          additions: 1,
-          deletions: 1,
-          commits: 1,
-          base: {
-            sha: '1234',
-          },
-          head: { ref: 'somebranch', repo: { full_name: 'some/repo' } },
-          state: PrState.Open,
-        });
-
-      await github.initRepo({
-        repository: 'some/repo',
-      } as any);
-      const pr = await github.getBranchPr('somebranch');
-      expect(pr).toMatchSnapshot();
-      expect(httpMock.getTrace()).toMatchSnapshot();
-    });
-    it('aborts reopening if branch recreation fails', async () => {
-      const scope = httpMock.scope(githubApiHost);
-      initRepoMock(scope, 'some/repo');
-      scope
-        .get('/repos/some/repo/pulls?per_page=100&state=all')
-        .reply(200, [
-          {
-            number: 91,
-            head: { ref: 'somebranch', repo: { full_name: 'some/repo' } },
-            title: 'old title - autoclosed',
-            state: PrState.Closed,
-          },
-        ])
-        .post('/repos/some/repo/git/refs')
-        .reply(201)
-        .patch('/repos/some/repo/pulls/91')
-        .reply(422);
-
-      await github.initRepo({
-        repository: 'some/repo',
-      } as any);
-      const pr = await github.getBranchPr('somebranch');
-      expect(pr).toBeNull();
-      expect(httpMock.getTrace()).toMatchSnapshot();
-    });
-    it('aborts reopening if PR reopening fails', async () => {
-      const scope = httpMock.scope(githubApiHost);
-      initRepoMock(scope, 'some/repo');
-      scope
-        .get('/repos/some/repo/pulls?per_page=100&state=all')
-        .reply(200, [
-          {
-            number: 91,
-            head: { ref: 'somebranch', repo: { full_name: 'some/repo' } },
-            title: 'old title - autoclosed',
-            state: PrState.Closed,
-          },
-        ])
-        .post('/repos/some/repo/git/refs')
-        .reply(422);
-
-      await github.initRepo({
-        repository: 'some/repo',
-      } as any);
-      const pr = await github.getBranchPr('somebranch');
-      expect(pr).toBeNull();
-      expect(httpMock.getTrace()).toMatchSnapshot();
-    });
     it('should return the PR object in fork mode', async () => {
       const scope = httpMock.scope(githubApiHost);
       forkInitRepoMock(scope, 'some/repo', true);
diff --git a/lib/platform/github/index.ts b/lib/platform/github/index.ts
index 247cc1389d3dbcdf4ce67ed871476149fb6cccb5..7c48180185f8e2733f8f0b5b6e0799b6f733be21 100644
--- a/lib/platform/github/index.ts
+++ b/lib/platform/github/index.ts
@@ -791,49 +791,11 @@ export async function findPr({
 // Returns the Pull Request for a branch. Null if not exists.
 export async function getBranchPr(branchName: string): Promise<Pr | null> {
   logger.debug(`getBranchPr(${branchName})`);
-  const openPr = await findPr({
+  const existingPr = await findPr({
     branchName,
     state: PrState.Open,
   });
-  if (openPr) {
-    return getPr(openPr.number);
-  }
-  const autoclosedPr = await findPr({
-    branchName,
-    state: PrState.Closed,
-  });
-  if (autoclosedPr?.title?.endsWith(' - autoclosed')) {
-    logger.debug({ autoclosedPr }, 'Found autoclosed PR for branch');
-    const { sha, number } = autoclosedPr;
-    try {
-      await githubApi.postJson(`repos/${config.repository}/git/refs`, {
-        body: { ref: `refs/heads/${branchName}`, sha },
-      });
-      logger.debug({ branchName, sha }, 'Recreated autoclosed branch');
-    } catch (err) {
-      logger.debug('Could not recreate autoclosed branch - skipping reopen');
-      return null;
-    }
-    try {
-      const title = autoclosedPr.title.replace(/ - autoclosed$/, '');
-      await githubApi.patchJson(`repos/${config.repository}/pulls/${number}`, {
-        body: {
-          state: 'open',
-          title,
-        },
-      });
-      logger.info(
-        { branchName, title, number },
-        'Successfully reopened autoclosed PR'
-      );
-    } catch (err) {
-      logger.debug('Could not reopen autoclosed PR');
-      return null;
-    }
-    delete config.closedPrList?.[number]; // So that it's no longer found in the closed list
-    return getPr(number);
-  }
-  return null;
+  return existingPr ? getPr(existingPr.number) : null;
 }
 
 async function getStatus(