How to Install and Use GitHub Desktop

Your guide to getting started with GitHub Desktop for efficient version control.

Step 1: Download and Install GitHub Desktop

GitHub Desktop is available for both Windows and macOS. You can download it from the official GitHub Desktop page:

Download GitHub Desktop

Step 2: Install GitHub Desktop

Once downloaded, open the installer and follow the instructions for installation. After installation is complete, launch GitHub Desktop.

Step 3: Sign In to GitHub

Upon launching, you will be prompted to sign in with your GitHub account. If you don't have one, you can create it here.

Step 4: Cloning a Repository

To clone a repository, click on "File" → "Clone Repository" in the top menu. You can either clone a repository from GitHub.com or enter a repository URL manually.

Once cloned, you will see the files in your local directory. This allows you to work on them offline and later push your changes to GitHub.

Step 5: Making and Committing Changes

Once you make changes to your code, GitHub Desktop will detect the changes and show them under the "Changes" tab. You can write a commit message and click "Commit to main" to save your changes.

Step 6: Pushing Changes to GitHub

After committing your changes locally, you need to push them to the remote repository on GitHub. Click "Push origin" to sync your changes with GitHub.

Step 7: Pulling Updates

If there are changes in the remote repository that aren't in your local copy, you can pull those changes by clicking "Pull origin". This will ensure your local repository stays up-to-date with the remote.