GitHub Desktop

GitHub, Inc. · Open source · Developer

GitHub Desktop is an open-source graphical user interface that simplifies interacting with Git repositories and GitHub. It allows developers to manage branches, commit changes, publish code, and review history without using the command line.

Download for Windows

desktop.githubusercontent.com · Official website

✓ Official source (winget)
✓ SHA256 taken from the official repository
✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026
This is not a virus scan. Check on VirusTotal

Version: 3.6.10
Release date: Oct. 26, 2026
License: MIT
Installer type: exe

Install from the command line

How do I use this?

Type Terminal in the Start menu and open it, paste the command (Ctrl+V or right-click) and press Enter. It uses winget, Windows' own package manager, to install the program from its official source.

winget install --id GitHub.GitHubDesktop -e

SHA256 (file verification)

36cae76228a32cfabcf2bf3e17e6bb3f4e294b70692ca88a163595e6603dd835

Download for macOS

desktop.githubusercontent.com · Official website

✓ Official source (Homebrew)
✓ SHA256 taken from the official repository
✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026
This is not a virus scan. Check on VirusTotal

Version: 3.6.10-ffeefe5d
License: MIT
Installer type: zip

Install from the command line

How do I use this?

This command needs Homebrew; if you don't have it, first run the install command from brew.sh. Then open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal), paste the command and press Enter.

brew install --cask github

SHA256 (file verification)

8d891e3c891c5b583869fc99b445c91ac77a6bd787161ddd492f485de36e6357

Open official page for Linux

flathub.org · Official website

✓ Community package (Flathub)
✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026

Version: 3.4.13-linux1
Release date: Feb. 24, 2025
License: MIT
Installer type: flatpak

Install from the command line

How do I use this?

Open a terminal, paste the command and press Enter. Flatpak and Flathub must be set up; Linux Mint has them by default, for other distributions see flathub.org/setup.

flatpak install flathub io.github.shiftey.Desktop

Platform pages: Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
Old versions (3)

GitHub Desktop 3.6.10: what's new?

Fixed an issue by updating Git for Windows.
Updated Git for Windows to version 2.56.0.windows.4.

Summarized from the publisher's release notes.

Highlights

Visual diff tool to review code changes before committing
Branch management and creation directly from the interface
Seamless integration with GitHub and GitHub Enterprise accounts
Support for co-authoring commits and syntax-highlighted diffs

Who is it for?

GitHub Desktop is for software developers, designers, and students who want to manage version control and GitHub workflows visually rather than through terminal commands.

Good to know before installing

Lacks support for advanced Git features like interactive rebasing.
Interface and features are primarily optimized for GitHub rather than third-party Git hosts.

Screenshots

How to install

Windows

Download the official Windows installer from our download link.
Run the downloaded setup file to complete installation.
Alternatively, execute 'winget install --id GitHub.GitHubDesktop -e' in Command Prompt.

Alternatives

Sourcetree
GitKraken
Lazygit

All GitHub Desktop alternatives →

Frequently asked questions

Is GitHub Desktop free to use?

Yes, GitHub Desktop is free and open-source software licensed under the MIT License.

Can I use GitHub Desktop with Git services other than GitHub?

While optimized for GitHub, it supports local Git repositories and basic Git operations for other remote hosts.

Does GitHub Desktop replace Git CLI entirely?

It covers most common Git workflows visually, but advanced Git commands still require the terminal.