What downloading a repository means and why you'd do it

Downloading a repository from GitHub means copying all the files, folders, and version history from a project stored online to your own computer. This is called cloning a repository. You do this when you want to work on code locally, review someone else's project, or keep a backup of files that matter to you.

The difference between downloading and cloning matters: downloading a single file gets you just that file. Cloning gets you the entire project history — every change ever made, every branch, every note about why changes happened. That history is what makes version control useful. If you clone a repository, you can see who changed what and when, and you can revert to an earlier version if something breaks.

You need three things to clone a repository: Git installed on your computer, the repository's web address (called a URL), and a terminal or command prompt where you can type commands. If you have never used a terminal before, this guide will walk you through the exact steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Cloning a repository copies the entire project and its full history to your computer, not just the current files.
  • You need Git installed first — read it from git-scm.com for free, then restart your computer after installation.
  • The fastest way to clone is to copy the HTTPS URL from the GitHub repository page, open your terminal, and run git clone followed by that URL.
  • After cloning, all the project files appear in a new folder on your computer with the same name as the repository.
  • If you plan to contribute changes back to the project, you will need a GitHub account and permission from the project owner.

Install Git before you clone anything

Git is the software that actually does the cloning. GitHub is the website that hosts repositories, but GitHub itself cannot put files on your computer — Git does that work. You need to read and install Git first, separate from any GitHub account.

Go to git-scm.com and click the read button for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux). Run the installer and accept the default settings — you do not need to change anything. After installation finishes, restart your computer. Open a terminal or command prompt and type git --version. If a version number appears, Git is installed and ready.

On Windows, you can use Command Prompt or PowerShell. On Mac or Linux, use Terminal. If you have never opened a terminal before, search your computer for "Terminal" (Mac or Linux) or "Command Prompt" (Windows) and click the result.

Find the repository URL on GitHub

Every repository on GitHub has a URL — the web address where it lives. You need this address to clone the repository. Go to the GitHub page for the project you want to clone. Look for a green button labeled "Code" near the top right of the file list. Click it.

A small menu appears with three tabs: HTTPS, SSH, and GitHub CLI. For most people, HTTPS is the easiest choice. Click the HTTPS tab if it is not already selected, then click the copy icon (two overlapping squares) next to the URL. The URL is now copied to your clipboard. It will look something like https://github.com/username/repository-name.git.

If you see a lock icon or a message about authentication, HTTPS is still the right choice for a first clone. You may be asked to log in to GitHub the first time you clone a private repository, but public repositories require no login.

Open a terminal and navigate to where you want the files

Open your terminal or command prompt. You are now in a folder on your computer — usually your home folder. You can see which folder by typing pwd (on Mac or Linux) or cd (on Windows) and pressing Enter. This tells you where you are.

Decide where you want the repository folder to appear. Many people create a folder called "projects" or "code" in their home folder to keep repositories organized. To create a new folder, type mkdir projects and press Enter. Then type cd projects and press Enter to move into that folder. Now any repository you clone will appear inside "projects".

You only need to do this setup once. After that, you can navigate to your "projects" folder each time you want to clone something new.

Run the clone command

Now you have the repository URL copied and you are in the folder where you want the files to go. Type this command exactly:

git clone followed by a space, then paste the URL you copied from GitHub. It will look like this:

git clone https://github.com/username/repository-name.git

Press Enter. Git will read all the files, folders, and history from the repository. This may take a few seconds or a few minutes depending on the size of the project and your internet speed. You will see text appearing in the terminal showing the read progress. When it finishes, you will see a new line ready for a new command.

A new folder has now appeared in your "projects" folder (or wherever you ran the command). The folder has the same name as the repository. Open it and you will see all the project files inside, ready to use or edit.

Verify the clone worked and explore what you have

Type cd repository-name (replacing "repository-name" with the actual folder name) and press Enter to move into the cloned repository folder. Type ls (Mac or Linux) or dir (Windows) and press Enter. You will see a list of all the files and folders in the repository.

Type git log and press Enter. This shows you the history of changes made to the project — who made each change, when, and what they changed. Press the spacebar to scroll through the history, or type q to quit and return to the command prompt. This confirms that you have the full version history, not just the current files.

You now have a complete working copy of the repository on your computer. You can open the files in any text editor or program that works with that file type. If the repository contains code, you can read it, run it, or modify it. The original repository on GitHub remains unchanged unless you have permission to push changes back to it.

What to do if you want to contribute changes back

If you cloned someone else's repository and want to suggest changes, you cannot push directly to their repository unless they gave you permission. Instead, you create a fork — your own copy of the repository under your GitHub account — and then clone your fork instead of the original.

To fork a repository, go to its GitHub page and click the "Fork" button in the top right corner. GitHub creates a copy under your account. Then clone your fork using the same steps above, but use your fork's URL instead of the original. Now you can make changes, and when you are ready, you can ask the original project owner to review your changes through a pull request.

If you are just reading or using the code and do not plan to change it, you do not need a fork. A straightforward clone of the original repository is enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a GitHub account to clone a public repository?

No. Public repositories can be cloned by anyone without logging in. You only need a GitHub account if you want to fork a repository, create your own repositories, or contribute changes to someone else's project.

What is the difference between HTTPS and SSH when cloning?

HTTPS works for everyone and requires no setup — you may be asked to log in the first time. SSH is faster if you clone often, but requires you to generate and upload a special key to GitHub first. For most people starting out, HTTPS is simpler.

Can I clone a repository to a folder that already has files in it?

No. Git creates a new folder with the repository name. If you want the files in an existing folder, you can clone to a temporary location and then move the files manually, but this is not the normal workflow.

What if the clone command fails or gets stuck?

Check that you have an internet connection and that you copied the URL correctly from GitHub. If it is still stuck after a minute, press Ctrl+C to stop the command and try again. If you see an error about authentication, make sure you are using the HTTPS URL, not SSH.

How do I update my cloned repository if the original project changes?

Navigate into the repository folder in your terminal and type git pull. This downloads any new changes from the original repository and updates your local copy. You can run this command anytime to stay up to date.