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GitHub Desktop

ApplicationGitHub

Dem still dey call am github desktop app, gh desktop

GitHubProductivity

GitHub official Git GUI for Windows. Di process na GitHubDesktop.exe. You still fit use git.exe without dis app.

Wetin you need know

GitHub Desktop na GUI. git.exe still dey work without am.

GitHubDesktop.exe na GitHub official Windows GUI. Git for Windows na git.exe plus Git Bash. To uninstall Desktop no dey remove Git. To install Desktop no dey replace git-scm.com.

Wetin e be?
Official Git GUI from GitHub
I need am for git?
No. git.exe dey work alone
E be the same thing as gh.exe?
No. Dat one na GitHub CLI
Feex tok say
If GitHub Desktop no gree push, I go check the GitHub sign-in inside dis app. I no go first uninstall Git for Windows. The GUI na optional. git.exe na the main engine.

Wetin be GitHub Desktop?

GitHub Desktop na GitHub GUI to clone, commit, and open pull requests. E dey talk to Git under the hood. E no be git.exe and e no be gh.exe.

If you never use am before

If person tell you make you install GitHub Desktop, na GitHub click-to-clone window be dis, no be git.exe. Download am from desktop.github.com. You fit already dey use Git for Windows without dis GUI. Sourcetree and Fork na other Git windows. gh.exe na the GitHub CLI, no be dis Electron app.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Clone and commit with mouse

The history and diff window. git status inside Git Bash na the same work without dis GUI.

GitHub.com accounts

Sign-in and pull requests against GitHub. Places wey dey focus on Bitbucket first dey often choose Sourcetree instead.

Open inside your editor

Desktop fit pass repo give VS Code or another editor. Dat editor na still different process.

Na who e dey for?

  • People wey want GitHub without to dey live inside terminal
  • Students wey their class install dis one instead of Git Bash
  • Anybody wey mix am up with git.exe because both of dem carry Git name

Current status

GitHub Desktop (2015) na current git gui from GitHub. The vendor still dey direct Windows users go https://desktop.github.com/.

How old e be?

GitHub release dis Electron desktop app for 2015 after the older GitHub for Windows / C# client. E new pass Git (2005) and e old pass GitHub CLI (2020). The current product name na still GitHub Desktop.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

GitHub Desktop

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Current 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, according to GitHub Desktop docs
RAM Electron baseline plus the repo wey you open

Resource profile

CPU demand
Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand
Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
GitHubDesktop.exe GitHub Desktop window

Startup components

GitHub Desktop fit reopen the last repo. Na session restore be dat, no be Windows service wey dem name GitHub.

File locations

Common GitHub Desktop locations
Typical install C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop\

File formats

GIT

Common wahala dem

People dey think say na Git be dis

where.exe git suppose still find Program Files\Git if you install Git for Windows. Desktop na GitHubDesktop.exe.

Auth dey work here, CLI dey fail

Desktop dey store GitHub credentials for im own Git calls. git push inside random terminal fit still need Git Credential Manager.

How to get unstuck

Confirm say na GitHub Desktop you open, no be git-bash.exe

The window title and GitHubDesktop.exe path na dis product. Program Files\Git na the VCS port.

Install from desktop.github.com

Any GitHub Desktop pro listing na rubbish. Na GitHub dey host the real installer.

Use File > Options > Git to see which Git e dey call

Desktop fit use bundled Git or system Git. Dat setting no dey install Sourcetree.

Alternatives

Git for Windows if na only the command you need. GitHub CLI for pull requests inside terminal. Sourcetree if the remote na Bitbucket.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download desktop.github.com/ Official installer or vendor page
Help docs.github.com/desktop Vendor support
Official site desktop.github.com/ Start here, no be random exe host
GitHub Docs: Desktop docs.github.com/en/desktop Clone, commit, and account help

Related hardware

The GUI na Electron app. Big repos dey find RAM and SSD. GPU no dey make commits fast pass before.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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