This version of GitHub Enterprise will be discontinued on This version of GitHub Enterprise was discontinued on 2020-01-22. No patch releases will be made, even for critical security issues. For better performance, improved security, and new features, upgrade to the latest version of GitHub Enterprise. For help with the upgrade, contact GitHub Enterprise support.

Cloning a repository

When you create a repository on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance, 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.

This procedure assumes you have already created a repository on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance, or have an existing repository owned by someone else you'd like to contribute to.

  1. On GitHub Enterprise, navigate to the main page of the repository.

    Note: If the repository is empty, you can manually copy the repository page's URL from your browser and skip to step four.

  2. Under the repository name, click Clone or download.

    Clone or download button

  3. To clone the repository using HTTPS, under "Clone with HTTPS", click . To clone the repository using an SSH key click Use SSH, then click .

    Clone URL button

  4. Open TerminalTerminalGit Bash.

  5. Change the current working directory to the location where you want the cloned directory to be made.

  6. Type git clone, and then paste the URL you copied in Step 2.

    $ git clone https://hostname/YOUR-USERNAME/YOUR-REPOSITORY
  7. Press Enter. Your local clone will be created.

    $ git clone https://hostname/YOUR-USERNAME/YOUR-REPOSITORY
    > Cloning into `Spoon-Knife`...
    > remote: Counting objects: 10, done.
    > remote: Compressing objects: 100% (8/8), done.
    > remove: Total 10 (delta 1), reused 10 (delta 1)
    > Unpacking objects: 100% (10/10), done.

Cloning a repository to GitHub Desktop

  1. On GitHub Enterprise, navigate to the main page of the repository.

  2. Under your repository name, click to clone your repository in Desktop. Follow the prompts in GitHub Desktop to complete the clone. For more information, see "Cloning a repository from GitHub to GitHub Desktop."

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