# GitHub CLI

Application: GitHub

Also called gh, gh cli, hub cli

GitHub, Productivity

GitHub's official command-line tool. The process is gh.exe. It is not GitHub Desktop and not git.exe.

## What you need to know

gh.exe is GitHub CLI. GitHub Desktop is a different app.

GitHub CLI is the official gh command. GitHub Desktop is GitHubDesktop.exe. Git for Windows is git.exe. Uninstalling Desktop does not remove gh. Installing gh does not install Git Bash.

- **What is it?**: gh command for GitHub

  **Same as Desktop?**: No. This is a CLI

  **Replaces git?**: No. You still need git.exe

Feex says

If gh is not recognized, I would install GitHub CLI from cli.github.com. I would not repair GitHub Desktop first. Desktop is a GUI. This is gh.exe.

## What is GitHub CLI?

GitHub CLI is gh.exe. It wraps GitHub.com features. It is not Git for Windows and not GitHub Desktop.

## If you have never used it

If a guide said install gh, this is GitHub CLI from cli.github.com. gh.exe creates pull requests and talks to GitHub's API. git.exe is still the VCS. GitHub Desktop is the GUI. You can use git without gh. You cannot replace git with gh for every local commit.

## What is it used for?

**Pull requests and issues**

gh pr create and gh issue. Desktop can do this with a mouse. git.exe alone cannot open a GitHub PR without extra steps.

**gh auth login**

Device or browser auth to GitHub. Git Credential Manager is a different helper used by git.exe.

**Repo create and clone helpers**

GitHub-specific shortcuts. git clone still works without this tool.

## Who is it for?

- People who live in a terminal and GitHub.com
- Users who do not want GitHub Desktop
- Anyone who typed gh and thought Git was missing

## Current status

GitHub CLI (2020) is a current github command line from GitHub. The vendor still points Windows users at https://cli.github.com/.

## How old is it?

GitHub released gh in 2020 as the supported CLI, after the older hub tool. It is newer than GitHub Desktop (2015) and much newer than Git (2005). Current Windows MSI and winget packages are the product.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

gh MSI

## System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | A current 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per GitHub CLI |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | The CLI is tiny                                                   |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Follows what you open inside the app

  **RAM demand**: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

## Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

| gh.exe | GitHub CLI |
| ------ | ---------- |

## Startup components

gh.exe does not start with Windows. You run it in a terminal.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\GitHub CLI\\ |
| --------------- | ----------------------------- |

## File formats

JSON from --json flags

## Common problems

### gh works, git is missing

Install Git for Windows from git-scm.com. gh talks to GitHub. git talks to the repo.

### Auth in Desktop, not in gh

gh auth login is a separate login. Desktop credentials do not automatically become gh tokens.

## Getting unstuck

### where.exe gh

Expect Program Files\GitHub CLI\gh.exe. GitHubDesktop.exe is the GUI path.

### Install from cli.github.com or winget GitHub.cli

A random gh.exe in Downloads is the case to ignore.

### gh auth status

Shows this CLI's login. It will not list Sourcetree accounts.

## Alternatives

GitHub Desktop for a GUI. git.exe for local version control. The old hub binary is not this supported CLI.

## Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

| Download      | [cli.github.com/ ](https://cli.github.com/)Official installer or vendor page      |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [cli.github.com/manual/ ](https://cli.github.com/manual/)Vendor support           |
| Official site | [cli.github.com/ ](https://cli.github.com/)Start here, not a random exe host      |
| Manual        | [cli.github.com/manual/ ](https://cli.github.com/manual/)gh pr, gh repo, and auth |

## Related hardware

The CLI is tiny. Network to GitHub is the usual limit.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[GitHub Desktop: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/github-desktop)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [GitHub CLI official site ](https://cli.github.com/)· Vendor product page
- [GitHub CLI help ](https://cli.github.com/manual/)· Vendor support
- [GitHub CLI manual ](https://cli.github.com/manual/)· Official command reference
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: GitHub

  **Category**: GitHub command line

  **Process**: gh.exe

  **License**: MIT

  **First released**: 2020

  **Official site**: [cli.github.com](https://cli.github.com/)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/github-cli/)

[Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)