# TortoiseGit Application: TortoiseGit Also called tortoise git, tgit TortoiseGit, Productivity A Git client that lives in File Explorer overlays and context menus. The helper is TortoiseGitProc.exe. It is not TortoiseSVN. ## What you need to know TortoiseGit is for Git. TortoiseSVN is for Subversion. TortoiseGitProc.exe is the Git Explorer client. TortoiseProc.exe is TortoiseSVN. Both draw overlays. Installing the SVN client will not commit to GitHub. - **What is it?**: Git icons and menus in Explorer **Same as TortoiseSVN?**: No. SVN is a different VCS **Need Git too?**: Yes. It calls git.exe Feex says If Git icons are missing, I would check TortoiseGit overlay handlers, not TortoiseSVN. Two Tortoise products can fight over icon slots. The repo type is the first question. ## What is TortoiseGit? TortoiseGit adds Git status icons and right-click commands to Explorer. It is not TortoiseSVN and not GitHub Desktop. ## If you have never used it If you want Git icons on folders in Explorer, that is TortoiseGit. Download it from tortoisegit.org. You still need Git for Windows. TortoiseSVN is the Subversion sibling with TortoiseProc.exe. Do not install SVN thinking it will version a Git repo. ## What is it used for? **Commit from Explorer** Right-click > Git Commit. GitHub Desktop is a separate window. git.exe is still the engine. **Overlay icons** TGitCache.exe walks folders. TortoiseSVN overlays are a different cache. **Diff and log dialogs** TortoiseGitProc.exe opens those windows. WinMerge or Beyond Compare can be the external diff. ## Who is it for? - People who live in Explorer, not in an IDE - Users coming from TortoiseSVN who now have a Git repo - Anyone whose overlay icons look like SVN on a Git folder ## Current status TortoiseGit (2008) is a current git explorer integration from TortoiseGit. The vendor still points Windows users at https://tortoisegit.org/. ## How old is it? TortoiseGit appeared in 2008 after TortoiseSVN made Explorer overlays famous. Current Windows builds still update. A TortoiseCVS memory is an even older sibling. ## Versions Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here. TortoiseGit ## 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 TortoiseGit | | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | RAM | Overlays are light. Huge working copies raise cache cost | ## 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. | TortoiseGitProc.exe | TortoiseGit dialogs and operations | | ------------------- | ---------------------------------- | | TGitCache.exe | Overlay cache on many installs | ## Startup components TGitCache.exe can start with Explorer. That is overlay status, not a GitHub service. ## File locations | Typical install | C:\Program Files\TortoiseGit\\ | | --------------- | ------------------------------ | ## File formats GIT ## Common problems ### Overlay icons missing Windows limits overlay slots. TortoiseSVN, OneDrive, and Dropbox can steal them. That is not a git.exe bug. ### Installed TortoiseSVN on a Git working copy SVN menus will not see .git. Install TortoiseGit and Git for Windows. ## Getting unstuck ### Confirm Git for Windows is installed TortoiseGit settings point at git.exe. Sourcetree's embedded Git is a different path. ### Install from tortoisegit.org The project hosts the MSI. A Tortoise pack on a freeware site is junk. ### TortoiseGit > Settings > Icon Overlays if icons vanish That dialog is this product. TortoiseSVN has a separate overlay page. ## Alternatives GitHub Desktop or Fork if you want a window instead of Explorer. TortoiseSVN if the repo is Subversion. ## Official help and downloads Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel. | Download | [tortoisegit.org/ ](https://tortoisegit.org/)Official installer or vendor page | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Help | [tortoisegit.org/support/ ](https://tortoisegit.org/support/)Vendor support | | Official site | [tortoisegit.org/ ](https://tortoisegit.org/)Start here, not a random exe host | | Manual | [tortoisegit.org/docs/ ](https://tortoisegit.org/docs/)Context menu and overlay docs | ## Related hardware Overlay caches can touch many folders. An SSD helps. The Git repo size still matters. ## 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. [TortoiseSVN: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/tortoisesvn)[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). - [TortoiseGit official site ](https://tortoisegit.org/)· Vendor product page - [TortoiseGit help ](https://tortoisegit.org/support/)· Vendor support - [TortoiseGit documentation ](https://tortoisegit.org/docs/)· Official manual - [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**: TortoiseGit **Category**: Git Explorer integration **Process**: TortoiseGitProc.exe **License**: GPL **First released**: 2008 **Official site**: [tortoisegit.org](https://tortoisegit.org/) **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/tortoise-git/) [Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)