How to use GitHub Desktop as a beginner?

 
Step 1: Install GitHub Desktop
 

Before you begin, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements:

• Operating System: Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.13 or later
• Internet connection
• Administrator or sudo privileges for installation

Visit the official download page and install:

• Go to https://desktop.github.com/
• Click the “Download for Windows” or “Download for macOS” button
• Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions

 
Step 2: Configure Your Git Identity
 

Before making commits, set your name and email so GitHub can associate your contributions with your account. Open a terminal from GitHub Desktop (Repository → Open in Terminal) and run:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

 
Step 3: Sign In to Your GitHub Account
 

• Launch GitHub Desktop
• If prompted, click “Sign in to GitHub.com”
• Authorize GitHub Desktop to access your account
• Verify your account appears in the top-left corner under “Current User”

 
Step 4: Clone an Existing Repository
 

Cloning copies a repository from GitHub to your local machine:

• In GitHub Desktop, go to File → Clone Repository
• Select the “GitHub.com” tab to see your repositories
• Choose a repository and click “Clone”
• The repo will appear under “Current Repository” and files on your local drive

 
Step 5: Create a New Repository
 

Start a project from scratch:

• In GitHub Desktop, go to File → New Repository
• Enter a Name, Description (optional), and Local Path
• Choose a Git Ignore template (e.g., “Node”) and a License if needed
• Click “Create repository”
• Optionally, click “Publish repository” to push it to GitHub.com

 
Step 6: Make Changes and Commit
 

Workflow for tracking changes:

• Open the repository folder in your preferred code editor
• Edit files or add new ones
• Return to GitHub Desktop; unstaged changes appear in the “Changes” tab
• Enter a clear commit message in the summary field
• Click “Commit to main” (or the current branch name)

 
Step 7: Push Your Commits to GitHub.com
 

Keep the remote repo up to date:

• After committing, click the “Push origin” button in the top toolbar
• This uploads your local commits to the remote repository
• Verify the changes on GitHub.com by visiting the repo’s page

 
Step 8: Pull Updates from the Remote Repository
 

In case others have pushed changes:

• Click the “Fetch origin” button to check for new commits
• If updates exist, “Pull origin” will appear—click it to sync your local copy
• Resolve any merge conflicts if prompted (see next step)

 
Step 9: Create and Manage Branches
 

Use branches to develop features safely:

• Click the current branch dropdown in the top toolbar
• Select “New Branch”
• Name your branch (e.g., “feature/login-form”) and click “Create Branch”
• Work on the branch, commit, then push it the same way
• Switch branches anytime using the branch menu

 
Step 10: Handle Merge Conflicts
 

When local and remote changes overlap:

• GitHub Desktop will flag conflicted files after a pull
• Click “Open in Editor” for each conflicted file
• Manually resolve conflicts by choosing which code to keep
• Save the file, return to GitHub Desktop, then mark as resolved
• Commit the merge and push the result

 
Step 11: Create a Pull Request
 

Contribute your branch back to the main project:

• In GitHub Desktop, switch to the branch you want to merge
• Click “Create Pull Request” in the top toolbar
• This opens GitHub.com in your browser with a pre-filled PR form
• Review, add reviewers, then click “Create pull request”

 
Step 12: View History and Undo Changes
 

Inspect past commits or revert mistakes:

• Go to the “History” tab in GitHub Desktop
• Click any commit to see changed files and diffs
• To undo a commit, right-click it and select “Revert This Commit”
• Follow prompts to commit the reversal

Now you’ve mastered the core GitHub Desktop workflow—installing, configuring, cloning, creating, committing, collaborating, and resolving conflicts—all through a friendly graphical interface. Happy coding!