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In this article we will show you how to Use GitHub Desktop in Windows. GitHub Desktop is a free, open-source desktop app that you can run on Windows. It is made by GitHub to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) client for Git so that projects can be managed without using the command line. Users of the GitHub website will have an easy-to-use interface for managing and organizing repositories. Git and Github are not the same thing.
Git is a method for keeping track of changes made to software while it is being made. In simple terms, it is a version control system that is virtual and spread out. With Git, it’s easy to work with all the workers on a project and not worry about losing code. While GitHub is a service that hosts repositories on the web. Github’s SaaS panel is made to handle git repositories, so you can use it to manage your git repositories.
It gives you a way to handle your code and repositories through a Web-based interface. Git lets you download and set up the PC version of Github, though. So, if you use github and want to use a desktop app instead of the Web app to handle your git repositories, you are in the right place at the right time. we mentioned below are the ways to Use GitHub Desktop in Windows.
How to Install GitHub Desktop on Windows
You can use GitHub Desktop for free on Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu. Here’s how to quickly set up GitHub Desktop on Windows 11 and 10:
- From your web browser, head to the official download page for GitHub Desktop.
- Select the Download for Windows button to begin your download. Alternatively, you can also download the Windows MSI installation file.
- Once the installation completes, double-click the GitHub Desktop setup file (the downloaded file should be in your Downloads folder).
- GitHub Desktop will automatically launch once it’s ready.
How to Sign Into GitHub Desktop on Windows
Before you can Use GitHub Desktop Windows, you will need to sign in with your GitHub account and verify it. Sign up for a GitHub account if you don’t already have one. To add an existing GitHub account to GitHub Desktop:
- Launch GitHub Desktop through the Start menu, search for GitHub Desktop, and select the best match.
- Within GitHub Desktop, navigate to File > Options > Accounts.
- Select the Sign in button based on your account type (GitHub.com for regular users and GitHub Enterprise for enterprise/work accounts).
- When prompted, complete the sign-in process on your browser. Return to the Accounts options page to confirm your login.
How to Use GitHub Desktop Like a Pro
Clone a Repository Using GitHub Desktop on Windows
You can clone a GitHub repository fast without having to use the command line. You can clone a project if you are working on it or if it is a public repository. If you haven’t already, here’s how you can clone a project repository:
- Launch GitHub Desktop and click on the Current repository button from the left pane.
- Click on the Add dropdown and then select Clone repository.
- To clone a repo associated with your signed-in account, select GitHub.com or GitHub Enterprise based on your account type.
- Scroll to find the repo you want to clone and update the saved location if needed.
- Once you’re ready, select Clone to begin cloning the project.
Create a Branch in GitHub Desktop
Branches are an important part of how git works because they let you work on a copy of the main file. It makes sure that experimental or unstable code doesn’t change the version of the codebase that is used in production. Developers can do whatever they want in their own separate branch and then push code that has been tried. To make a branch on GitHub Desktop:
- Launch the GitHub Desktop app from the Start menu.
- Select the Current repository dropdown and choose the project you want to work on.
- Next, select the Current branch dropdown and click on New branch.
- Enter a name for the branch and select Create branch to confirm your selection.
- To move your current working changes to the new branch, select the Bring my changes to button.
Commit Using GitHub Desktop on Windows
Now that you know how to set up your project and make branches in GitHub Desktop, let’s look at how you can add code to your branch.
- Open the cloned GitHub repo in your preferred code editor.
- From GitHub Desktop, switch to the branch you want to work in (you can use the steps described in the previous section).
- Make the necessary changes in your code and save the files.
- Go back to GitHub Desktop, and you should see the changes you’ve made in the left pane.
- Review your changes, and once you’re ready, enter a message with your commit in the text box of the left pane.
- Select the Commit to button to confirm your changes and commit code into your branch.
What Is GitHub Desktop?
GitHub Desktop is an open-source program that lets you use GitHub without using a command line or web browser. With GitHub Desktop, you and your team are more likely to work together and use the best ways to use Git and GitHub. With GitHub Desktop, developers can run tasks like creating a repository, making a pull request, or making a commit with just one click. If you want to know more information about this Visit Official Microsoft Support site.
Working with Git and collaborating with other coders is made more flexible by this extra ease of use. So, to sum up, Git is a version control system that helps you handle and keep track of your code, and GitHub is a cloud-based hosting platform that lets developers manage their Git repositories. GitHub Desktop is an app that lets users connect with GitHub better through a graphical user interface (GUI).