Our verdict: Git for Windows is the version of Git almost every Windows developer installs. It gives you the real git command, a Bash shell with common Unix tools and secure sign-in to GitHub and other hosts. The installer asks many questions, but the defaults are sensible for most people.
About Git for Windows
Git for Windows is the official Windows port of Git, maintained as an open-source project and linked from git-scm.com. It follows Git's release cycle and usually ships a new major version within a day of upstream Git.
Besides git.exe, it installs Git Bash, a Bash environment based on MSYS2 with common Unix tools, and Git GUI for staging and committing with a mouse. Git Credential Manager stores your credentials securely and handles sign-in to GitHub, Azure Repos and other services.
What it does well
- Git Bash. A Bash shell with familiar Unix commands, running in the mintty terminal.
- Git GUI. Graphical commits, staging and visual diffs for people who prefer a window.
- Git Credential Manager. Secure credential storage and sign-in for GitHub, Azure Repos and others.
- Explorer integration. Right-click a folder to open Git Bash or Git GUI there.
- Built-in updater. Run git update-git-for-windows to check for and install new versions.
Who it is for
Good fit
Anyone using Git on Windows: developers, students, writers who version text, and CI machines.
Look elsewhere
People who only want a graphical Git client; they may prefer a GUI app on top of it.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Official, actively maintained Git build
- Bash and Unix tools included
- Secure credential handling
- Free and open source
Cons
- No MSI package for Group Policy deployment
- Some interactive native console programs misbehave inside Git Bash's mintty terminal
- Long file paths are not enabled by default
How to install Git for Windows
Download the 64-bit installer from gitforwindows.org. The setup wizard has many pages; keeping the defaults works for most users. A portable version and an ARM64 installer are listed in the same GitHub release. Afterwards, git works from Git Bash, PowerShell and Command Prompt.
Questions about Git for Windows
Is Git for Windows the same as GitHub Desktop?
No. Git for Windows is Git itself with a command line and a basic GUI. GitHub Desktop is a separate graphical client.
How do I update Git for Windows?
Run git update-git-for-windows in a terminal, or download and run the latest installer over your current version.
Why do I get errors with long file names?
Windows limits paths to 260 characters by default. Run git config --global core.longpaths true to let Git handle longer paths.
