GitHub looks built for developers at first glance. The beginner path is smaller than the dashboard makes it feel: create an account, make a repository, add files, and learn how commits and pull requests move work forward.
Start in the browser, then add Desktop, Git, CLI, Mobile, or Codespaces only when your project needs them.
Start with a GitHub account
Create the account first, then GitHub can save your repositories, commits, pull requests, and settings.
- 1.Go to https://github.com/signup in your browser.
- 2.Click Continue with Google where GitHub offers it, or follow the standard signup prompts.
- 3.Create your personal account with the details GitHub asks for.
- 4.Verify your email address when GitHub prompts you.
Create your first repository
This fixes the blank starting point by giving your project, notes, files, or simple website a home.
In the upper-right corner of GitHub, select +. Click New repository. Type a repository name that describes what you are saving. Add a description for context on the repository page.
Choose Public or Private. Turn Add README on. Click Create repository.
Learn the GitHub workflow in your browser
Use this method when you want to understand GitHub without installing Git or opening the command line. GitHub’s beginner web workflow teaches the core loop inside the site.
Create a repository. Then create a branch so your change has a separate place to live before it affects the main project. Edit the README file. Commit the change so GitHub records what changed.
Open Pull requests. Click New pull request. Then click Create pull request.
Click Merge pull request. Click Confirm merge. After the work is merged, click Delete branch.
Add files from the GitHub website
Open the repository and browse to the folder where the file belongs. Choose Add file > Create new file when you want to type a file directly in GitHub.
Enter the file name with its extension, type the content, and click Preview to check it before saving. Click Commit changes..., then complete the commit message and branch options.
For files already on your computer, open the repository and choose Add file > Upload files. Drag and drop the file or folder, or click choose your files, enter a commit message, choose the current branch or a new branch, and click Propose changes.
Browser uploads are limited, and GitHub notes that .gitattributes logic is ignored during browser uploads. For larger everyday projects, use Git, GitHub Desktop, or GitHub CLI.
Install the beginner-friendly tools
You can use GitHub in the browser, but these official tools make local projects, phone checks, and command-line work easier.
- 1.Install Git from https://git-scm.com/downloads/, then use Terminal, Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Git Bash for Git commands.
- 2.Install GitHub Desktop from https://desktop.github.com/download/ on macOS or Windows.
- 3.Use GitHub Desktop on macOS 12.0 or later, or Windows 10 64-bit or later.
- 4.Install GitHub CLI from https://cli.github.com/ to create repositories and use GitHub from the command line.
- 5.Install GitHub Mobile from the official iOS App Store or Google Play page for notifications, issues, pull requests, search, 2FA, and sign-in verification.
Clone a repository to your computer
Open the repository on GitHub and click Code. Copy the HTTPS, SSH, or GitHub CLI URL, or choose Open with GitHub Desktop.
In Terminal or Git Bash, change to the folder where you want the project saved. Run git clone URL, replacing URL with the address you copied.
In GitHub Desktop, use File > Clone Repository, choose GitHub.com, GitHub Enterprise, or URL, select the repository, click Choose... next to Local Path, and click Clone.
Cloning a repository you cannot write to works normally. The fork prompt shows up when you try to push a change, so create a branch and publish it, and GitHub Desktop asks whether you want to fork the repository. Choose To contribute to the parent project or For my own purposes, then click Continue.
Push an existing project to GitHub
Create an empty repository on GitHub first, and leave the README, license, and .gitignore options off so it stays empty. Copy the remote URL from Quick setup, then open Terminal or Git Bash and move into the local project folder.
The commands below assume that folder is already a Git repository with at least one commit. If it is not, run git init -b main, then git add ., then git commit -m "First commit" before you add the remote.
Run git remote add origin REMOTE-URL, replacing REMOTE-URL with the URL you copied. Run git remote -v to confirm the remote was added. Then run git push -u origin main. Replace main with your branch name when your project uses a different branch.
Older guides tell you to enter your GitHub account password for git clone, git push, or other HTTPS Git operations. GitHub.com no longer accepts account passwords for authenticated Git operations, so use token-based authentication, OAuth, GitHub App authentication, GitHub CLI authentication, Git Credential Manager, or SSH keys.
If the push fails, check the branch name and use one of GitHub’s supported authentication methods before trying again.
Control notifications and secure sign-in
The most common cause of a noisy beginner GitHub account is leaving notifications on default settings.
Open https://github.com/settings/notifications. Enable delivery for Email and On GitHub only for the places where you want to read alerts. Use the notifications inbox at https://github.com/notifications or GitHub Mobile to manage and clear notifications.
Configure email and web inbox delivery from those same notification settings. Mobile push event types are set in the app instead: on iOS, tap Profile, open the settings gear, and tap Notifications; on Android, tap Profile, open the settings gear, and tap Configure Notifications.
For account security, open your profile picture menu, then go to Settings > Password and authentication. Under Two-factor authentication, click Enable two-factor authentication and complete setup. To add a passkey, go to Password and authentication > Passkeys > Add a passkey > Add passkey, then follow the passkey provider prompt.
Use GitHub from an editor or phone
For quick browser editing, open any repository on GitHub.com and press the . key, or change the URL to github.dev. The github.dev editor lets you edit files in the browser, but it has no compute and no integrated terminal.
When you need compute or a terminal, click Continue Working On... > Create New Codespace after committing changes. You can also create a codespace from a repository with Code > Codespaces > Create codespace on BRANCH-NAME.
In GitHub Desktop, click Create a Tutorial Repository... to practice installing a text editor, creating a branch, editing a file, making a commit, publishing to GitHub, and opening a pull request.
GitHub Mobile is better for managing notifications, reading and reviewing issues and pull requests, editing files in pull requests, searching repositories, using 2FA, and verifying sign-in attempts.
If one editing method fails, switch to GitHub Desktop for a guided local workflow or github.dev for a quick browser edit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install Git before using GitHub?
No. You can create repositories, edit README files, upload files, make commits, and open pull requests from GitHub.com. Install Git when you want to clone or push projects from your computer.
Should a beginner use GitHub Desktop or the command line?
GitHub Desktop is the easier starting point on macOS and Windows because it includes a tutorial repository and guided clone, commit, publish, issue, and pull request flows. The command line is useful when you want direct Git commands.
Can I use GitHub on my phone?
Yes. GitHub Mobile for iOS and Android lets you manage notifications, work with issues and pull requests, edit files in pull requests, search repositories, use 2FA, and verify sign-in attempts.
Can I publish a simple website with GitHub?
Yes. GitHub Pages can publish a site from a repository named username.github.io. Create that repository, turn on a README, open Settings > Pages, choose Deploy from a branch, select the branch source, then visit username.github.io after publishing.
