cloning-a-repository.md

title	intro	redirect_from	versions	topics
Cloning a repository	When you create a repository on {% data variables.location.product_location %}, it exists as a remote repository. You can clone your repository to create a local copy on your computer and sync between the two locations.	/articles/cloning-a-repository /articles/cloning-a-repository-from-github /github/creating-cloning-and-archiving-repositories/cloning-a-repository /github/creating-cloning-and-archiving-repositories/cloning-a-repository-from-github/cloning-a-repository	fpt ghes ghec * * *	Repositories

About cloning a repository

{% webui %}

You can clone a repository from {% data variables.location.product_location %} to your local computer{% ifversion codespaces %}, or to a codespace,{% endif %} to make it easier to fix merge conflicts, add or remove files, and push larger commits. When you clone a repository, you copy the repository from {% data variables.location.product_location %} to your local machine{% ifversion codespaces %}, or to a remote virtual machine when you create a codespace. For more information about cloning to a codespace, see "AUTOTITLE."{% else %}.{% endif %}

{% endwebui %}

{% cli %}

{% data reusables.repositories.about-cloning %}

{% endcli %}

{% desktop %}

{% data reusables.repositories.about-cloning %}

{% enddesktop %}

Cloning a repository pulls down a full copy of all the repository data that {% data variables.location.product_location %} has at that point in time, including all versions of every file and folder for the project. You can push your changes to the remote repository on {% data variables.location.product_location %}, or pull other people's changes from {% data variables.location.product_location %}. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE".

You can clone your existing repository or clone another person's existing repository to contribute to a project.

Cloning a repository

{% webui %}

{% data reusables.repositories.navigate-to-repo %} {% data reusables.repositories.copy-clone-url %} {% data reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal %} {% data reusables.command_line.change-current-directory-clone %} {% data reusables.command_line.git-clone-url %} {% data reusables.command_line.local-clone-created %}

{% endwebui %}

{% cli %}

{% data reusables.cli.cli-learn-more %}

To clone a repository locally, use the repo clone subcommand. Replace the repository parameter with the repository name. For example, octo-org/octo-repo, monalisa/octo-repo, or octo-repo. If the OWNER/ portion of the OWNER/REPO repository argument is omitted, it defaults to the name of the authenticating user.

gh repo clone REPOSITORY

You can also use the GitHub URL to clone a repository.

gh repo clone https://github.com/PATH-TO/REPOSITORY

{% endcli %}

{% desktop %}

{% data reusables.repositories.navigate-to-repo %} {% data reusables.repositories.open-with-github-desktop %}

1. Follow the prompts in {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to complete the clone.

For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% enddesktop %}

Cloning an empty repository

An empty repository contains no files. It's often made if you don't initialize the repository with a README when creating it.

{% data reusables.repositories.navigate-to-repo %}

1. To clone your repository using the command line using HTTPS, under "Quick setup", click {% octicon "copy" aria-label="Copy to clipboard" %}. To clone the repository using an SSH key, including a certificate issued by your organization's SSH certificate authority, click SSH, then click {% octicon "copy" aria-label="Copy to clipboard" %}.

   

   Alternatively, to clone your repository in Desktop, click {% octicon "desktop-download" aria-hidden="true" %} Set up in Desktop and follow the prompts to complete the clone.

   

{% data reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal %} {% data reusables.command_line.change-current-directory-clone %} {% data reusables.command_line.git-clone-url %} {% data reusables.command_line.local-clone-created %}

Troubleshooting cloning errors

When cloning a repository it's possible that you might encounter some errors.

If you're unable to clone a repository, check that:

• You can connect using HTTPS. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
• You have permission to access the repository you want to clone. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
• The default branch you want to clone still exists. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}

Further reading

• "AUTOTITLE" {% endif %}