# GitHub Desktop Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Simple collaboration from your desktop Category: Developer Tools · Free · Replaces Tower ($69/year) · [Official website](https://desktop.github.com) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask github` ## Quick take A free, open-source Git GUI that remains the practical daily driver for GitHub.com on Mac in 2026. Version 3.6.3 (14 July 2026) keeps Apple Silicon builds and PR/CI visibility close at hand. Choose Tower or the CLI when you need interactive rebase or submodule-heavy workflows; choose Desktop for diffs, staging, and low-friction GitHub auth. ## What is GitHub Desktop? - Complete Guide for Mac Users in 2026 As of August 2026 GitHub Desktop **3.6.3** (14 July 2026) is the current stable release. GitHub Desktop is a free, open-source Git client with a graphical interface for everyday version control. GitHub (owned by Microsoft) builds it so you can review code changes, switch branches, and read commit history without memorizing every CLI flag. In 2026 it remains a common install on Apple development machines, with support for macOS Sequoia and Apple Silicon chips (M3, M4 and earlier M-series). Where the CLI asks you to remember syntax, Desktop draws the project state: staged vs unstaged files, branch tips, and a readable history list. The app is optimized for GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise, but it can manage any Git repository, including remotes on GitLab or Bitbucket and repos that never leave your disk. Its job is to lower the barrier for people new to version control while still helping experienced engineers with repetitive work such as fetching remotes and reviewing diffs. The stack is Electron; recent 2026 updates improved performance and memory management on macOS so the client feels closer to a native Swift app for ordinary tasks. Mac-specific touches include system Dark and Light themes, Touch ID for authentication when you configure it, and ordinary macOS window behavior. Whether you are a designer tracking asset changes or a full-stack engineer sorting a messy merge, Desktop is there to cut friction: stage carefully, commit with intent, push when ready, and spend more minutes in the editor than in repository housekeeping. Downloads cover Apple Silicon and Intel Macs (macOS 12+ per GitHub's current desktop download notes), and the project stays MIT-licensed on github.com/desktop/desktop. Official install docs still list Homebrew (`brew install --cask github` - note the cask name is github) alongside the desktop.github.com download zip. First launch walks through browser OAuth against GitHub.com, then asks for the Git name and email attached to future commits. ## Features - **Visual Drag-and-Drop Cherry-Picking.** One of Desktop's practical strengths is cherry-picking without hunting hashes. On the command line you look up a commit SHA and type a careful command; in Desktop you open another branch's history, click a commit, and drag it onto your current branch to apply those changes. That workflow shows up constantly in 2026 when a hotfix must move between release lines or a single feature commit needs a testing branch without merging an entire topic branch. Desktop runs the underlying Git operations and alerts you in the UI if conflicts appear during the apply. For release managers juggling several supported versions, the visual confirmation is often faster than repeating `git cherry-pick` across terminal tabs. - **Partial Commits and Line Selection.** Granular staging is built into the Changes view. Developers often touch several files (or unrelated hunks in one file) in a single editing session, yet still want atomic commits for a clean history. In Desktop you can check an entire file, or click in the gutter of the diff to stage individual lines or blocks. That lets you separate a bug fix from a feature addition even when both landed in the same file during the afternoon. The visual approach also reduces the chance of committing debug code or unfinished logic you meant to leave behind. - **Co-Authoring Commits.** Pair programming is routine on many teams, and Desktop makes shared credit a form field instead of a memorized trailer. Rather than hand-formatting Co-authored-by lines, you add teammates by GitHub username or email in a dedicated input. The app queries GitHub to autocomplete names so contribution graphs update for everyone involved. Shared ownership shows up correctly on profiles without each person recalling obscure commit-message rules. - **Integrated Pull Request Management.** Collaborative GitHub workflows reach the Mac client directly. You can create a Pull Request from the app right after pushing a branch. Branch rows also show GitHub Actions and other CI statuses (build pass/fail, lint) beside the branch name, so you check results without a constant browser hop. In 2026 the integration deepened further: PR reviews and comments surface in the app notification center, which shortens the feedback loop when several reviews land in one afternoon. - **External editor and shell integration.** Desktop handles version control and leaves editing to specialists. It integrates with popular Mac editors including Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm), and Nova. A click or Command + Shift + A opens the repository in your preferred editor. When you do need the CLI, Open in Terminal launches Terminal, iTerm2, Warp, or Hyper already rooted in the repo directory. That flexibility keeps Desktop as a companion to your existing tools rather than a replacement for them. - **Visual Merge Conflict Resolution.** Merge conflicts intimidate many developers. Desktop walks through them with a guided list of conflicted files and options to open each file in an external editor that understands merge markers. After you save a resolution, the UI updates immediately so you can finish the merge with an ordinary commit. On large teams where the same files change often, that guided path removes a lot of anxiety from merge day. ## How to Install GitHub Desktop on Mac Install GitHub Desktop on macOS with Homebrew (common for developers) or by downloading the zip from the site. 1. **Install via Homebrew.** If you have Homebrew installed, open your Terminal (or iTerm) and run the following command to install the cask automatically: `brew install --cask github`. Note: The cask is named 'github', not 'github-desktop'. 2. **Manual Download Method.** Alternatively, visit the official website at desktop.github.com and click 'Download for macOS'. Once the zip file downloads, unzip it and drag the 'GitHub Desktop' app icon into your 'Applications' folder. 3. **Initial Launch and Authorization.** Open GitHub Desktop from Spotlight or your Applications folder. You will be prompted to sign in. Click 'Sign in to GitHub.com'. Your default browser will open to authorize the application. Grant the necessary permissions to link your account. 4. **Configure Git Settings.** The onboarding wizard will ask you to configure your Git name and email. These details will be attached to your commits. Ensure these match the email address associated with your GitHub account to get 'Verified' badges on your commits. ## Pros - Free and open-source with no feature paywall in the client. - Clear diffs and history that are easy to scan. - Auth works with GitHub and GitHub Enterprise, including 2FA. - Drag-and-drop cherry-picking turns a fiddly Git command into a visual action. - Line-level partial commits are quick to stage. - Fits macOS habits: Touch ID, Dark Mode, and system notifications. ## Cons - Misses advanced Git surfaces such as interactive rebase or rich stash management. - Very large histories can still feel slow. - Electron-based rather than a fully native Mac app, even with recent performance work. - No built-in Git submodule workflow for multi-repo layouts. ## FAQ ### Does GitHub Desktop only work with GitHub repositories? No. The app is strongest on GitHub (PR shortcuts, checks), yet it is a full Git client. You can manage GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, or local-only repos. Create Pull Request and View Checks still depend on the GitHub API, so those buttons do little on other hosts. ### How does GitHub Desktop perform on Apple Silicon (M3/M4) Macs? As of 2026, GitHub Desktop ships a native build for Apple Silicon. It runs on M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips without Rosetta 2 translation. Startup times are short, and memory usage is significantly better than older Intel-oriented builds. It remains an Electron app, but modern optimization keeps common tasks (computing diffs, scrolling long history logs) responsive on current Macs. Download pages list separate Apple Silicon and Intel options alongside the macOS 12+ requirement. ### Can I use GitHub Desktop to resolve merge conflicts? Yes. On merge or pull conflicts the app lists conflicted files and can open them in your external editor (for example VS Code) so you pick current vs incoming changes. After you save, Desktop notices the resolution and lets you commit the merge. ### Is GitHub Desktop better than the Command Line Interface (CLI)? It depends on the user and the task. For visualizing history, viewing image diffs, and selective staging (partial commits), GitHub Desktop is generally faster than raw CLI workflows. For complex operations like interactive rebasing, bisecting to find bugs, or running filter-branch style scripts, the CLI is more capable. Most professional developers use a hybrid approach: Desktop for daily committing and reviewing, and the CLI for heavy lifting or scripting. Neither tool has to win exclusively. ### Where does GitHub Desktop store my credentials? Desktop stores GitHub access tokens in the macOS Keychain, not as plain text. Later sessions reuse that secure store. SSH users rely on the system SSH agent and whatever passphrase or key settings you already configured. ### Can I revert a specific commit using the app? In the History tab, right-click a commit and choose Revert Changes in Commit. Desktop creates a new inverse commit so shared history stays linear. That is the safe undo path on collaborative branches, and the app writes the revert commit for you. ### Does it support Git LFS (Large File Storage)? Yes. Desktop understands Git LFS for game assets, datasets, and design files. Cloning an LFS repo initializes LFS. If you stage a file over GitHub's recommended size limit (100MB), Desktop prompts you to set up LFS so the push is less likely to be rejected. ### How do I ignore files in GitHub Desktop? Right-click a file in Changes and choose Ignore file (or ignore by extension). Desktop edits `.gitignore` for you so you do not hand-write the pattern. ## Sources - [GitHub Desktop Release Notes](https://desktop.github.com/release-notes/) - [Download GitHub Desktop](https://desktop.github.com/download/) - [Installing GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/installing-and-authenticating-to-github-desktop/installing-github-desktop) - [desktop/desktop repository](https://github.com/desktop/desktop) - [GitHub Desktop home](https://desktop.github.com/) - [GitHub Desktop releases on GitHub](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases) ## Related - [Cursor](https://bundl.run/apps/cursor) - [Claude Code](https://bundl.run/apps/claude-code) - [ChatGPT](https://bundl.run/apps/chatgpt) - [Claude](https://bundl.run/apps/claude) - [Codex](https://bundl.run/apps/codex) - [Windsurf](https://bundl.run/apps/windsurf) - [GitHub Desktop vs Tower](https://bundl.run/compare/tower-vs-github-desktop) - [GitHub Desktop vs Atlassian SourceTree](https://bundl.run/compare/github-desktop-vs-sourcetree) - [Free alternative to Tower](https://bundl.run/https:/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. Install all your essential Mac apps with one terminal command.", "sameAs": [ "https://github.com/abhiofficial/bundl-mac-setup", "https://x.com/bundlrun", "https://www.producthunt.com/products/bundl-run" ], "foundingDate": "2024", "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer support", "url": "https://bundl.run/faq" } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "description": "The Ninite for Mac. Install all your essential Mac apps with one terminal command.", "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen#person", "name": "Alex Chen", "jobTitle": "Senior Developer Tools Specialist", "url": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "description": "Alex Chen has been evaluating developer tools and productivity software for over 12 years, with deep expertise in code editors, terminal emulators, and development environments. As a former software engineer at several Bay Area startups, Alex brings hands-on experience with the real-world workflows these tools are meant to enhance. Alex tests each application extensively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, documenting performance metrics, integration capabilities, and workflow efficiency. When not reviewing software, Alex contributes to open-source projects and writes technical tutorials for the developer community.", "knowsAbout": [ "Code Editors & IDEs", "Terminal Emulators", "Version Control Tools", "DevOps & CI/CD", "API Development", "Performance Benchmarking" ], "image": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen.svg" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://bundl.run" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Apps", "item": "https://bundl.run/apps" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "GitHub Desktop", "item": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop" } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop", "name": "GitHub Desktop for Mac", "description": "Simple collaboration from your desktop", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "datePublished": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-10T13:34:04.000Z", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen#person" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop#software" }, "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop#software", "name": "GitHub Desktop", "description": "Simple collaboration from your desktop", "applicationCategory": "DeveloperApplication", "operatingSystem": "macOS", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://img.logo.dev/github.com", "caption": "GitHub Desktop app icon for Mac" }, "sameAs": [ "https://desktop.github.com/", "https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/github" ], "review": { "@type": "Review", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen#person" }, "reviewBody": "A free, open-source Git GUI that remains the practical daily driver for GitHub.com on Mac in 2026. Version 3.6.3 (14 July 2026) keeps Apple Silicon builds and PR/CI visibility close at hand. Choose Tower or the CLI when you need interactive rebase or submodule-heavy workflows; choose Desktop for diffs, staging, and low-friction GitHub auth." }, "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "GitHub Desktop", "description": "Simple collaboration from your desktop" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website" } }, { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop#article", "headline": "GitHub Desktop for Mac — Full Review & Installation Guide 2026", "description": "A free, open-source Git GUI that remains the practical daily driver for GitHub.com on Mac in 2026. Version 3.6.3 (14 July 2026) keeps Apple Silicon builds and PR/CI visibility close at hand. Choose Tower or the CLI when you need interactive rebase or submodule-heavy workflows; choose Desktop for diffs, staging, and low-friction GitHub auth.", "image": "https://img.logo.dev/github.com", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen#person" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "datePublished": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-10T13:34:04.000Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop" }, "articleSection": "DeveloperApplication", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "h1", ".key-facts" ] }, "about": { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "name": "GitHub Desktop", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop" }, "mentions": [ { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "name": "Tower" } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does GitHub Desktop only work with GitHub repositories?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. The app is strongest on GitHub (PR shortcuts, checks), yet it is a full Git client. You can manage GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, or local-only repos. Create Pull Request and View Checks still depend on the GitHub API, so those buttons do little on other hosts." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does GitHub Desktop perform on Apple Silicon (M3/M4) Macs?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "As of 2026, GitHub Desktop ships a native build for Apple Silicon. It runs on M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips without Rosetta 2 translation. Startup times are short, and memory usage is significantly better than older Intel-oriented builds. It remains an Electron app, but modern optimization keeps common tasks (computing diffs, scrolling long history logs) responsive on current Macs. Download pages list separate Apple Silicon and Intel options alongside the macOS 12+ requirement." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I use GitHub Desktop to resolve merge conflicts?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. On merge or pull conflicts the app lists conflicted files and can open them in your external editor (for example VS Code) so you pick current vs incoming changes. After you save, Desktop notices the resolution and lets you commit the merge." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is GitHub Desktop better than the Command Line Interface (CLI)?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends on the user and the task. For visualizing history, viewing image diffs, and selective staging (partial commits), GitHub Desktop is generally faster than raw CLI workflows. For complex operations like interactive rebasing, bisecting to find bugs, or running filter-branch style scripts, the CLI is more capable. Most professional developers use a hybrid approach: Desktop for daily committing and reviewing, and the CLI for heavy lifting or scripting. Neither tool has to win exclusively." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where does GitHub Desktop store my credentials?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Desktop stores GitHub access tokens in the macOS Keychain, not as plain text. Later sessions reuse that secure store. SSH users rely on the system SSH agent and whatever passphrase or key settings you already configured." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I revert a specific commit using the app?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In the History tab, right-click a commit and choose Revert Changes in Commit. Desktop creates a new inverse commit so shared history stays linear. That is the safe undo path on collaborative branches, and the app writes the revert commit for you." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does it support Git LFS (Large File Storage)?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Desktop understands Git LFS for game assets, datasets, and design files. Cloning an LFS repo initializes LFS. If you stage a file over GitHub's recommended size limit (100MB), Desktop prompts you to set up LFS so the push is less likely to be rejected." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I ignore files in GitHub Desktop?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Right-click a file in Changes and choose Ignore file (or ignore by extension). Desktop edits `.gitignore` for you so you do not hand-write the pattern." } } ], "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/github-desktop" } }, { "@type": "ItemList", "name": "GitHub Desktop Video Tutorials", "description": "Tutorial videos for learning GitHub Desktop on Mac", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "Git, GitHub, & GitHub Desktop for beginners", "description": "Beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide to learning Git, GitHub, and GitHub Desktop. 💻 LEARN TO CODE 💻 MY COURSE: RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Tools and resources I use myself and highly recommend, with exc", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Dd7KRpKeaE/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2022-02-01T16:00:51Z", "duration": "PT22M16S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Dd7KRpKeaE", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 975024 } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "How to setup GitHub Desktop? Clone GitHub repo | Commit changes to GitHub repo | Beginners guide 🤩", "description": "If you have recently learned about GIT and you tried using GitHub but couldn't setup a connection with GitHub to clone the repository in your local computer? Then this video is for you. Beginners find", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UGokwtIn1Hk/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2023-07-12T14:45:18Z", "duration": "PT11M59S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/UGokwtIn1Hk", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 72318 } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "GitHub Desktop Quick Intro For Mac", "description": "Hey, This video tutorial will help you to understand about Git Desktop tool.", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g0mzXLAw-ek/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2022-11-15T17:07:29Z", "duration": "PT8M50S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/g0mzXLAw-ek", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 102 } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "GitHub Tutorial for Beginners (2025)", "description": "Learn how to use GitHub Desktop even if you’ve never coded before. In this beginner-friendly GitHub tutorial, I’ll walk you step-by-step through setting up your free GitHub account, installing GitHub ", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v5gnvDUWqFM/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2025-09-10T13:31:04Z", "duration": "PT19M54S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/v5gnvDUWqFM", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 20995 } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "GitHub Basics Made Easy: A Fast Beginner's Tutorial!", "description": "Curious about Git and GitHub? Wondering how they work and why you should use them for your code? This beginner-friendly tutorial has got you covered! Learn Git basics for beginners and how to use GitH", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oaj3RBIoGFc/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2023-10-19T15:53:50Z", "duration": "PT23M30S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oaj3RBIoGFc", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 561263 } } } ], "numberOfItems": 5 } ] } ```