How to Install and Use Git and GitHub on Windows 10 and 11

Git is a version control system used by all developers. GitHub is the most popular Git hosting platform. Here's how to set everything up from scratch on Windows.

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Install Git

Method 1 — Official Installer (recommended)

1. Download from git-scm.com/download/win
2. Run installer — keep default settings
3. On "Choosing default editor" step — select VS Code or Notepad++

Method 2 — winget

winget install Git.Git

Verify Installation

git --version
# git version 2.45.2.windows.1

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Basic Git Configuration

# Set name and email (appears in every commit)
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your@email.com"

# Default editor (VS Code)
git config --global core.editor "code --wait"

# Default branch name
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

# Check all settings
git config --list

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Connect to GitHub

HTTPS (easier for beginners)

git clone https://github.com/username/repo.git
# Use Personal Access Token instead of password

Create token: GitHub → Settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens → Generate → select repo

SSH (more convenient for regular use)

# Generate SSH key
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your@email.com"

# Copy public key
Get-Content "$env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub" | Set-Clipboard

Add to GitHub: Settings → SSH keys → New SSH key → paste

# Test connection
ssh -T git@github.com

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Essential Git Commands

# Initialize repository
git init

# Check status
git status

# Stage files
git add .

# Commit
git commit -m "Description of changes"

# View history
git log --oneline

# Push to GitHub
git push origin main

# Pull from GitHub
git pull origin main

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/username/repo.git

Branches

git branch              # list branches
git checkout -b feature # create and switch
git merge feature       # merge into current
git branch -d feature   # delete

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Git in VS Code

VS Code has built-in Git support — no need to memorize commands: Ctrl + Shift + G → Source Control panel → stage, commit, push via GUI

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Common Issues

Git asks password on every push

git config --global credential.helper manager-core

Undo last commit

git reset --soft HEAD~1   # keep changes
git reset --hard HEAD~1   # discard changes

CRLF warning

git config --global core.autocrlf true

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Summary

Task	Command
Set username	git config --global user.name "Name"
Start project	git init → git add . → git commit
Upload to GitHub	git push origin main
Get updates	git pull origin main
New branch	git checkout -b branch-name