
By Sanket Shah
Jan 13, 2026
7 min read

By Sanket Shah
Jan 13, 2026
7 min read
How do you copy a GitHub project to your local machine without errors? Learn how to clone a repository step by step, helping developers set up code on their machines without confusion.
Needed a copy of a project from GitHub, but did not know where to start.
Many developers want to deliver code quickly without breaking anything. Did you know more than 180 million developers now build on GitHub, and new developers are joining every second?
How do you get a full working copy on your own machine?
That is where how to clone a repository from GitHub comes in.
Let's walk you through the process step by step. The steps are clear. The tools are simple. You will move from confusion to confidence in minutes.
Think of a git repository as a smart project folder. It stores every file, tracks changes, and keeps the full history of your project.

Before jumping into cloning a repository, it's good to get a few things in order.
Think of this as your warm-up to ensure everything goes smoothly.
These prerequisites make cloning smoother and help prevent common errors. Having them ready will save you time and frustration later.
Before diving into the cloning steps, it's helpful to know what a repository URL is and why it matters. Every GitHub repository has a unique URL that points to its location on the server. You can choose between HTTPS and SSH links.
HTTPS is simpler and works with your username and password, while SSH requires a key pair but is more secure and convenient for frequent access. Having this URL handy is the first step to successfully cloning any project.
First, navigate to the GitHub repository you want.
Click on the green Code button. Copy the repository URL. You can choose HTTPS or SSH.
For example, it may look like https://github.com/user/repo.git. This link is key because git clone https://github.com will need it.
Next, open Git Bash on Windows or your terminal on macOS or Linux.
Navigate to the folder where you want the project files. If you want a new directory, you can create one using:
1mkdir my-project
2cd my-project
Now comes the fun part. Run the following command:
1git clone [repository url]
Replace [repository url] with the one copied from GitHub. For HTTPS, it would look like:
1git clone https://github.com/user/repo.git
Press Enter and watch git start cloning. You’ll see messages like:
These just mean git is copying the repository data to your local machine.
After the clone finishes, you’ll have a directory named after the repository. Enter it with:
1cd repository-name
List files using ls or dir to see your project files. Congratulations, you now have a local copy of the entire repository!
You can now edit files in the local repository, create new branches, and make changes. When done, you can push changes back to the remote repository using git push.
Before running these commands, make sure you are in the correct directory on your local machine and have the necessary permissions to access the remote repository.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| git clone [url] | Clone the entire repository |
| git clone -b [branch] [url] | Clone a specific branch |
| git clone --depth 1 [url] | Shallow clone with latest version only |
| git init | Initialize an empty git repository |
| git fetch | Fetch data from remote repository |
These commands cover the basics for cloning and managing repositories. Knowing them makes working with Git faster and reduces mistakes.
Cloning into an empty directory is a simple and tidy way to get a project on your local machine. Git sets up all files, branches, and history in one go, so you don’t have to worry about missing anything.
If the directory isn’t empty, Git may throw errors or conflicts, so always check your path before running git clone. Starting with an empty directory keeps the process smooth and hassle-free.
Rocket.new isn’t just for building apps from scratch—it’s also great when you want to clone an existing repository and get started fast. It can take a repository link and generate a working copy on your local machine, ready to explore or modify.
No complicated setup. No endless configuration. Just your project, ready to go.
When cloning repositories, beginners often run into a few common issues. Here’s what to watch out for:
Double-check these points before running git clone to save time and frustration.
Pay attention to these details, and git clone will work smoothly every time, making your workflow much easier.
Cloning a repository is a simple but powerful way to get a local copy of a project. Knowing how to clone a repository from GitHub helps you collaborate, learn, and experiment. Git makes version control painless once you get the hang of commands like git clone, git fetch, and git init.
Having a local copy of a repository means you can work offline, test new ideas safely, and track all changes before pushing them back to GitHub. It’s like having a personal playground for your code, with full access to the project’s history and branches.
Table of contents
Can I clone a private repository?
What’s the difference between git clone https and SSH?
Can I clone only part of a repository?
Can I clone a repository into an existing directory?