{"meta":{"title":"Cloning a repository from GitHub to GitHub Desktop","intro":"You can use GitHub to clone remote repositories to GitHub Desktop.","product":"GitHub Desktop","breadcrumbs":[{"href":"/en/desktop","title":"GitHub Desktop"},{"href":"/en/desktop/adding-and-cloning-repositories","title":"Add & clone repositories"},{"href":"/en/desktop/adding-and-cloning-repositories/cloning-a-repository-from-github-to-github-desktop","title":"Clone a GitHub repo"}],"documentType":"article"},"body":"# Cloning a repository from GitHub to GitHub Desktop\n\nYou can use GitHub to clone remote repositories to GitHub Desktop.\n\n> \\[!TIP]\n> You also can use GitHub Desktop to clone repositories that exist on GitHub. For more information, see [Cloning and forking repositories from GitHub Desktop](/en/desktop/adding-and-cloning-repositories/cloning-and-forking-repositories-from-github-desktop).\n\n1. Sign in to GitHub and GitHub Desktop before you start to clone.\n\n2. On GitHub, navigate to the main page of the repository.\n\n3. Above the list of files, click **<svg version=\"1.1\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" class=\"octicon octicon-code\" aria-label=\"code\" role=\"img\"><path d=\"m11.28 3.22 4.25 4.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0 1.06l-4.25 4.25a.749.749 0 0 1-1.275-.326.749.749 0 0 1 .215-.734L13.94 8l-3.72-3.72a.749.749 0 0 1 .326-1.275.749.749 0 0 1 .734.215Zm-6.56 0a.751.751 0 0 1 1.042.018.751.751 0 0 1 .018 1.042L2.06 8l3.72 3.72a.749.749 0 0 1-.326 1.275.749.749 0 0 1-.734-.215L.47 8.53a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\"></path></svg> Code**.\n\n   ![Screenshot of the list of files on the landing page of a repository. The \"Code\" button is highlighted with a dark orange outline.](/assets/images/help/repository/code-button.png)\n\n4. To clone and open the repository with GitHub Desktop, click **<svg version=\"1.1\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" class=\"octicon octicon-desktop-download\" aria-label=\"desktop-download\" role=\"img\"><path d=\"m4.927 5.427 2.896 2.896a.25.25 0 0 0 .354 0l2.896-2.896A.25.25 0 0 0 10.896 5H8.75V.75a.75.75 0 1 0-1.5 0V5H5.104a.25.25 0 0 0-.177.427Z\"></path><path d=\"M1.573 2.573a.25.25 0 0 0-.073.177v7.5a.25.25 0 0 0 .25.25h12.5a.25.25 0 0 0 .25-.25v-7.5a.25.25 0 0 0-.25-.25h-3a.75.75 0 1 1 0-1.5h3A1.75 1.75 0 0 1 16 2.75v7.5A1.75 1.75 0 0 1 14.25 12h-3.727c.099 1.041.52 1.872 1.292 2.757A.75.75 0 0 1 11.25 16h-6.5a.75.75 0 0 1-.565-1.243c.772-.885 1.192-1.716 1.292-2.757H1.75A1.75 1.75 0 0 1 0 10.25v-7.5A1.75 1.75 0 0 1 1.75 1h3a.75.75 0 0 1 0 1.5h-3a.25.25 0 0 0-.177.073ZM6.982 12a5.72 5.72 0 0 1-.765 2.5h3.566a5.72 5.72 0 0 1-.765-2.5H6.982Z\"></path></svg> Open with GitHub Desktop**.\n\n   ![Screenshot of the \"Code\" dropdown for a repository. A button, labeled \"Open with GitHub Desktop\" is outlined in dark orange.](/assets/images/help/repository/open-with-desktop.png)\n\n5. Click **Choose...** and navigate to a local directory where you want to clone the repository.\n\n   ![Screenshot of the \"URL\" tab of the \"Clone a Repository\" window. Next to the \"Local Path\" field, a button, labeled \"Choose\", is outlined in orange.](/assets/images/help/desktop/clone-choose-button-url-mac.png)\n\n   > \\[!NOTE]\n   > If the repository is configured to use LFS, you will be prompted to initialize Git LFS.\n\n6. Click **Clone**."}