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[Skip to main content](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#main-content) [GitHub Docs](https://docs.github.com/en) Version: Free, Pro, & Team Search or ask Copilot Search or ask Copilot Select language: current language is English [Sign up](https://github.com/signup?ref_cta=Sign+up&ref_loc=docs+header&ref_page=docs) Search or ask Copilot Search or ask Copilot Open menu Open Sidebar - [Get started](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started "Get started")/ - [Start your journey](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey "Start your journey")/ - [Download files](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github "Download files") [Home](https://docs.github.com/en) ## [Get started](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started) - Start your journey - [About GitHub and Git](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/about-github-and-git) - [Create an account](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/creating-an-account-on-github) - 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[Using keywords in issues and pull requests](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/working-with-advanced-formatting/using-keywords-in-issues-and-pull-requests) - Work with saved replies - [About saved replies](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/working-with-saved-replies/about-saved-replies) - [Creating a saved reply](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/working-with-saved-replies/creating-a-saved-reply) - [Editing a saved reply](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/working-with-saved-replies/editing-a-saved-reply) - [Deleting a saved reply](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/working-with-saved-replies/deleting-a-saved-reply) - [Using saved replies](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/working-with-saved-replies/using-saved-replies) - Share content with gists - [Creating gists](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/editing-and-sharing-content-with-gists/creating-gists) - [Forking and cloning gists](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/editing-and-sharing-content-with-gists/forking-and-cloning-gists) - [Saving gists with stars](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/editing-and-sharing-content-with-gists/saving-gists-with-stars) - [Moderating gist comments](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/editing-and-sharing-content-with-gists/moderating-gist-comments) - Explore projects - [Finding open source projects](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/finding-ways-to-contribute-to-open-source-on-github) - [Contribute to open source](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/contributing-to-open-source) - [Use Copilot to explore projects](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/using-github-copilot-to-explore-projects) - [Contribute to a project](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/contributing-to-a-project) - [Save repositories with stars](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/saving-repositories-with-stars) - [Following people](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/following-people) - [Following organizations](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/following-organizations) - Git basics - [Set up Git](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/set-up-git) - [Set your username](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/setting-your-username-in-git) - [Caching credentials](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/caching-your-github-credentials-in-git) - [Repeated credential prompts](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/why-is-git-always-asking-for-my-credentials) - [macOS Keychain credentials](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/updating-credentials-from-the-macos-keychain) - [Git workflows](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/git-workflows) - [About remote repositories](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/about-remote-repositories) - [Manage remote repositories](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/managing-remote-repositories) - [Associate text editors](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/associating-text-editors-with-git) - [Handle line endings](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/configuring-git-to-handle-line-endings) - [Ignoring files](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/ignoring-files) - [Git cheatsheet](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/git-cheatsheet) - Using Git - [About Git](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/about-git) - [Push commits to a remote](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/pushing-commits-to-a-remote-repository) - [Get changes from a remote](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/getting-changes-from-a-remote-repository) - [Non-fast-forward error](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/dealing-with-non-fast-forward-errors) - [Splitting a subfolder](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/splitting-a-subfolder-out-into-a-new-repository) - [About Git subtree merges](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/about-git-subtree-merges) - [About Git rebase](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/about-git-rebase) - [Git rebase](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/using-git-rebase-on-the-command-line) - [Resolve conflicts after rebase](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/resolving-merge-conflicts-after-a-git-rebase) - [Special characters in names](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/dealing-with-special-characters-in-branch-and-tag-names) - [Maximum push limit](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/troubleshooting-the-2-gb-push-limit) - Archive account and public repos - [Request account archive](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/archiving-your-github-personal-account-and-public-repositories/requesting-an-archive-of-your-personal-accounts-data) - [GitHub Archive program](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/archiving-your-github-personal-account-and-public-repositories/opting-into-or-out-of-the-github-archive-program-for-your-public-repository) - Using GitHub Docs - [Docs versions](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-github-docs/about-versions-of-github-docs) - [Hover cards](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-github-docs/using-hover-cards-on-github-docs) - GitHub Certifications - [About GitHub Certifications](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/showcase-your-expertise-with-github-certifications/about-github-certifications) - [Registering for an exam](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/showcase-your-expertise-with-github-certifications/registering-for-a-github-certifications-exam) - [Get started](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started "Get started")/ - [Start your journey](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey "Start your journey")/ - [Download files](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github "Download files") # Downloading files from GitHub Learn how to download files from GitHub, and understand the difference between downloading, cloning, and forking. Copy as Markdown ## [Get started](https://docs.github.com/en/free-pro-team@latest/get-started/start-your-journey) Article 6 of 8 *** Next:[Uploading a project to GitHub](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/uploading-a-project-to-github) ## In this article - [Introduction](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#introduction) - [Prerequisites](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#prerequisites) - [Downloading a repository's files](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#downloading-a-repositorys-files) - [Conclusion](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#conclusion) - [Next steps](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#next-steps) - [Further reading](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#further-reading) ## [Introduction](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#introduction) GitHub.com is home to millions of open-source software projects, that you can copy, customize, and use for your own purposes. There are different ways to get a copy of a repository's files on GitHub. You can: - **Download** a snapshot of a repository's files as a zip file to your own (local) computer. - **Clone** a repository to your local computer using Git. - **Fork** a repository to create a new repository on GitHub. Each of these methods has its own use case, which we'll explain in the next section. This tutorial focuses on downloading a repository's files to your local computer. For example, if you've found some interesting content in a repository on GitHub, downloading is a simple way to get a copy of the content, without using Git or applying version control. ### [Understanding the differences between downloading, cloning, and forking](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#understanding-the-differences-between-downloading-cloning-and-forking) | Term | Definition | Use case | |---|---|---| | Download | To save a snapshot of a repository's files to your local computer. | You want to use or customize the content of the files, but you're not interested in applying version control. | | Clone | To make a full copy of a repository's data, including all versions of every file and folder. | You want to work on a full copy of the repository on your local computer, using Git to track and manage your changes. You likely intend to sync these locally-made changes with the GitHub-hosted repository. For more information, see [Cloning a repository](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/creating-and-managing-repositories/cloning-a-repository). | | Fork | To create a new repository on GitHub, linked to your personal account, that shares code and visibility settings with the original ("upstream") repository. | You want to use the original repository's data as a basis for your own project on GitHub. Or, you want to use the fork to propose changes to the original ("upstream") repository. After forking the repository, you still might want to clone the repository, so that you can work on the changes on your local computer. For more information, see [Fork a repository](https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/working-with-forks/fork-a-repo). | ## [Prerequisites](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#prerequisites) - You must have a GitHub account. ## [Downloading a repository's files](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#downloading-a-repositorys-files) For the tutorial, we'll use a demo repository ([octocat/Spoon-Knife](https://github.com/octocat/Spoon-Knife)). 1. Navigate to [octocat/Spoon-Knife](https://github.com/octocat/Spoon-Knife). 2. Above the list of files, click **Code**.  3. Click **Download ZIP**. ## [Conclusion](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#conclusion) You now have a copy of the repository's files saved as a zip file on your local computer. You can edit and customize the files for your own purposes. ## [Next steps](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#next-steps) - In the next tutorial, [Uploading a project to GitHub](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/uploading-a-project-to-github), you'll learn how to upload your own files to a remote repository on GitHub. ## [Further reading](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#further-reading) - [Downloading source code archives](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/working-with-files/using-files/downloading-source-code-archives) Previous[Finding inspiration on GitHub](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/finding-inspiration-on-github)Next[Uploading a project to GitHub](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/uploading-a-project-to-github) ## Help and support ### Help us make these docs great\! All GitHub docs are open source. See something that's wrong or unclear? Submit a pull request. [Make a contribution](https://github.com/github/docs/blob/main/content/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github.md) [Learn how to contribute](https://docs.github.com/contributing) ### Still need help? [Ask the GitHub community](https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions) [Contact support](https://support.github.com/) ## Legal - © 2026 GitHub, Inc. - [Terms](https://docs.github.com/en/site-policy/github-terms/github-terms-of-service) - [Privacy](https://docs.github.com/en/site-policy/privacy-policies/github-privacy-statement) - [Status](https://www.githubstatus.com/) - [Pricing](https://github.com/pricing) - [Expert services](https://services.github.com/) - [Blog](https://github.blog/)

Learn how to download files from GitHub, and understand the difference between downloading, cloning, and forking. ## [Introduction](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#introduction) GitHub.com is home to millions of open-source software projects, that you can copy, customize, and use for your own purposes. There are different ways to get a copy of a repository's files on GitHub. You can: - **Download** a snapshot of a repository's files as a zip file to your own (local) computer. - **Clone** a repository to your local computer using Git. - **Fork** a repository to create a new repository on GitHub. Each of these methods has its own use case, which we'll explain in the next section. This tutorial focuses on downloading a repository's files to your local computer. For example, if you've found some interesting content in a repository on GitHub, downloading is a simple way to get a copy of the content, without using Git or applying version control. ### [Understanding the differences between downloading, cloning, and forking](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#understanding-the-differences-between-downloading-cloning-and-forking) | Term | Definition | Use case | |---|---|---| | Download | To save a snapshot of a repository's files to your local computer. | You want to use or customize the content of the files, but you're not interested in applying version control. | | Clone | To make a full copy of a repository's data, including all versions of every file and folder. | You want to work on a full copy of the repository on your local computer, using Git to track and manage your changes. You likely intend to sync these locally-made changes with the GitHub-hosted repository. For more information, see [Cloning a repository](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/creating-and-managing-repositories/cloning-a-repository). | | Fork | To create a new repository on GitHub, linked to your personal account, that shares code and visibility settings with the original ("upstream") repository. | You want to use the original repository's data as a basis for your own project on GitHub. Or, you want to use the fork to propose changes to the original ("upstream") repository. After forking the repository, you still might want to clone the repository, so that you can work on the changes on your local computer. For more information, see [Fork a repository](https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/working-with-forks/fork-a-repo). | ## [Prerequisites](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#prerequisites) - You must have a GitHub account. ## [Downloading a repository's files](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#downloading-a-repositorys-files) For the tutorial, we'll use a demo repository ([octocat/Spoon-Knife](https://github.com/octocat/Spoon-Knife)). 1. Navigate to [octocat/Spoon-Knife](https://github.com/octocat/Spoon-Knife). 2. Above the list of files, click **Code**.  3. Click **Download ZIP**. ## [Conclusion](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#conclusion) You now have a copy of the repository's files saved as a zip file on your local computer. You can edit and customize the files for your own purposes. ## [Next steps](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#next-steps) - In the next tutorial, [Uploading a project to GitHub](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/uploading-a-project-to-github), you'll learn how to upload your own files to a remote repository on GitHub. ## [Further reading](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github#further-reading) - [Downloading source code archives](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/working-with-files/using-files/downloading-source-code-archives)