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How to Install GitHub Desktop on Windows

Install GitHub Desktop on Windows if you want a visual way to clone repositories, review diffs, switch branches, and open pull requests.

Priyanka Kasera
Priyanka Kasera·
April 2026·5 min read

Supported Versions

latest

Official Source

desktop.github.com (official)

Environment Setup

No PATH or environment variables required

Verify Step

PowerShell detects app-* folder under %LOCALAPPDATA%\GitHubDesktop

DevTools Installer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the publisher of GitHub Desktop. All product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. Downloads are sourced directly from the official publisher.

Install With DevTools Installer

Use this path if you want DevTools Installer to download the official package and handle the Windows setup for you.

  1. 1Open DevTools Installer.
  2. 2In Version Control, select "GitHub Desktop".
  3. 3Click "Install Selected".
  4. 4Let the installer download the official setup package and run the install silently.
  5. 5The app installs per-user to , so administrator rights are not required.
  6. 6Open GitHub Desktop from the Start Menu and sign in with your GitHub account.

Download Source

DevTools Installer downloads from the official publisher:

https://central.github.com/deployments/desktop/desktop/latest/GitHubDesktopSetup-x64.exe

Verification

DevTools Installer verifies the install by running:

PowerShell detects app-* folder under %LOCALAPPDATA%\GitHubDesktop

Expected output: GitHub Desktop 3.x.x

Manual Installation Steps

Use these steps if you want to run the official installer yourself.

  1. 1Download the installer from https://desktop.github.com/ or directly from https://central.github.com/deployments/desktop/desktop/latest/GitHubDesktopSetup-x64.exe
  2. 2Run the installer. It installs automatically to .
  3. 3No PATH changes are required because GitHub Desktop is a GUI application.
  4. 4Open GitHub Desktop from the Start Menu and complete the sign-in flow.
  5. 5If you want to verify the install from the file system, check that exists.

Need to upgrade, downgrade, or remove GitHub Desktop?

DevTools Installer can also upgrade GitHub Desktop to a newer version, roll back to an older one, or cleanly uninstall it — including PATH entries and environment variables. No manual cleanup required.

What Is GitHub Desktop Used For?

  • Developers who prefer a visual interface over command-line Git operations.
  • Quickly reviewing diffs, staging individual lines, and writing commit messages in a GUI.
  • Managing multiple GitHub repositories from a single dashboard.
  • Onboarding new team members who are unfamiliar with Git command-line syntax.
  • Resolving merge conflicts visually with side-by-side diff views.

Common Issues And Fixes

Check the problem and the exact fix before you reinstall anything. Some guides also include the reason the issue happens.

Problem

GitHub Desktop does not detect existing Git repositories

Exact fix

Use File → Add Local Repository and browse to the folder containing the .git directory. GitHub Desktop only tracks repos that are explicitly added.

Problem

Authentication fails when pushing to a private repository

Exact fix

Sign out and sign back in via File → Options → Accounts. Ensure you are using the correct GitHub account and that the repository permissions are set correctly.

Problem

The app installs but does not appear in the Start Menu

Exact fix

GitHub Desktop uses a Squirrel-based installer that writes to %LOCALAPPDATA%\GitHubDesktop. Restart Windows Explorer or search for "GitHub Desktop" in the Start Menu search bar.

Problem

Conflicts between GitHub Desktop's bundled Git and standalone Git

Exact fix

GitHub Desktop includes its own Git binary. If you also have Git for Windows installed, the standalone version takes priority in terminal sessions. GitHub Desktop always uses its bundled version in the GUI.

Tips for GitHub Desktop

  • ✓GitHub Desktop does not require administrator privileges — it installs per-user to your AppData folder.
  • ✓You can open any repository in your preferred editor (VS Code, IntelliJ, etc.) directly from the GitHub Desktop menu.
  • ✓GitHub Desktop automatically fetches and shows upstream changes, making it easy to stay in sync with your team.
  • ✓For advanced Git operations (rebase, cherry-pick, bisect), you will still need the Git command line. Install Git alongside GitHub Desktop for full coverage.

Related Guides

Git

Install Git on Windows so you can clone repositories, commit changes, use Git Bash, and run git from any terminal.

Visual Studio Code

Install VS Code on Windows if you want a fast editor with extensions, terminal integration, and the code command available on PATH.

Node.js

Install Node.js on Windows so you can run node, npm, Vite, React, Next.js, and other JavaScript tooling from any terminal.

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