Adding a repository from your local computer to GitHub Desktop

You can add any Git repository to GitHub Desktop, even if it's not a GitHub repository.

Platform navigation

Tip

You can add a Git repository from your local computer to GitHub Desktop by dragging the folder onto the GitHub Desktop window. If you drag multiple Git folders into GitHub Desktop at the same time, each folder will be added as a separate Git repository.

  1. In the menu bar, select File, then click Add Local Repository.
    Screenshot of the menu bar on a Mac. The "File" dropdown menu is open, and an option labeled "Add Local Repository" is highlighted with an orange outline.
  2. In the "Add Local Repository" window, click Choose..., then use the Finder window to navigate to the local repository you want to add.
    Screenshot of the "Add Local Repository" window. Next to the "repository path" field, a button, labeled "Choose", is highlighted with an orange outline.
  3. When you have chosen the local repository, in the "Add Local Repository" window, click Add Repository.
  1. In the menu bar, select File, then click Add local repository.
    Screenshot of the menu bar on Windows. The "File" dropdown menu is open, and an option labeled "Add local repository" is highlighted with an orange outline.
  2. In the "Add local repository" window, click Choose..., then use Windows Explorer to navigate to the local repository you want to add.
    Screenshot of the "Add local repository" window. Next to the "repository path" field, a button, labeled "Choose", is highlighted with an orange outline.
  3. Click Add repository.