How to Download from GitHub: Files, Folders, Repos, and Releases

Last updated October 19, 2026.

You can download anything in a public GitHub repo for free, straight from your browser, with no special downloader required. Here are the fastest ways to do it.

Download a whole repo as a ZIP

1. Open the repository on GitHub.com.
2. Click the green Code button above the file list.
3. Click Download ZIP.

Download a single file

1. Open the repository and click the file you want.
2. Click the Download raw file icon at the top right of the file view.

Download a release

1. On the repository’s main page, click Releases in the right sidebar.
2. Under Assets, click the file you want, or click Source code (zip).

A ZIP gives you a copy of the files as they are today. If you want the full history (every commit, branch, and change), clone the repo instead. We cover both below.

Table of contents

The first step we recommend before performing a GitHub download is to create a GitHub account if you don’t already have one. The process is really simple using the prompts on the GitHub website. 

After you’ve created your GitHub account, use the Table of Contents below to quickly navigate to the section that describes your GitHub download situation: 

• How to Download a GitHub Repository
• How to Clone a GitHub Repository
• How to Download a File from GitHub 
• How to Download Multiple Files from GitHub
• How to Download a CSV from GitHub
• How to Download a Folder from GitHub
• Jump Start Your Git Knowledge

How to Download a GitHub Repository

You can download any public repository, and any private repository you have access to. A GitHub account is only needed for private repos.

1. Go to the repository. Search for it in the GitHub search bar, or paste its URL into your browser.
2. Click the green Code button above the file list.
3. On the Local tab, click Download ZIP.

GitHub downloads the repo’s current default branch as a ZIP file. To get a different branch, switch to that branch first using the branch dropdown, then click Code.. 

How to Clone a GitHub Repository

Alternatively, if you’re trying to clone a GitHub repository onto your local machine, you can do that with the three options listed in the image above: HTTPS, SSH, or using the CLI. 

Regardless of which path you choose, cloning a GitHub repository is extremely easy using a Git Client, like GitKraken Client, that not only makes the process of cloning the GitHub repo intuitive, but also provides crucial visual context for interacting with the repository after you have it cloned to your computer. Learn how to clone a GitHub repository with the most popular, free Git GUI + terminal for GitHub.

How to Download a File from GitHub

The above process may be too much if you’re only looking to download a single file from a GitHub repository.  To download a file from GitHub, start by clicking the Go to file button at the top of the repo contents.

This will pull up a page that lists all of the files in the GitHub repository. 

Click on the file you wish to download from GitHub to open the individual file. From here, right click the Raw button at the top of the file, select Save Link As…, choose the location on your computer where you want to save the file, and select Save.

How to Download Files from GitHub

How you download multiple files from a GitHub repository depends on your use case. If you want to download a majority of the repository with the exception of a few files, the best option is to download a ZIP of the project and then manually delete the files you don’t want. 

Conversely, if you only want a few individual files from a repository, the easiest way to download them from GitHub is to follow the process outlines in the section above and download each file individually. 

How to Download a CSV from GitHub

Looking to download a CSV from GitHub? No problem! To download a CSV from GitHub simply navigate to your desired repository, select the CSV file, right click the Raw button at the top of the file, select Save Link As…, choose the location on your computer where you want to save the file, and select Save.

How to Download a Folder from GitHub

If you find yourself in a situation where you want to download a folder from GitHub repository, but not the entire repository itself, you can use a tool like https://download-directory.github.io/. 

To download a folder from GitHub, navigate to your desired repository, select the folder you want to download from GitHub, copy the URL, navigate to https://download-directory.github.io/ and paste the URL into the text box, and hit enter.

How to Use GitKraken with GitHub

With its GitHub integration, GitKraken Client can streamline the process of managing GitHub repositories. This integration facilitates actions like cloning directly from GitHub repos, adding remotes for GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise repositories, and more. Users can log in to GitHub directly within GitKraken Client to manage all GitHub issues and pull requests easily.

Additionally, the GitHub SSH feature enhances security, allowing users to generate and add a GitHub SSH key directly within GitKraken Client. This integration makes GitKraken Client an even more powerful tool for teams using GitHub, providing an efficient and secure method for repo access and management.

Jump Start your Git Knowledge

Now that you’re comfortable downloading repositories and files from GitHub, you can start working with them to improve your Git skills. These downloaded files are a perfect sandbox to start experimenting with basic Git commands and actions. Don’t be afraid to mess up, you can always go back to the repo and download it again! If you want to fast-track your Git knowledge and start contributing at work or to open source projects, check out the GitKraken Learn Git library, complete with tutorial videos, examples, definitions, and more!