---
title: About GitHub Desktop
shortTitle: About
intro: '{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} helps you work with projects hosted on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}.'
versions:
  fpt: '*'
  ghec: '*'
  ghes: '*'
redirect_from:
  - /desktop/installing-and-configuring-github-desktop/overview/about-github-desktop
  - /github/getting-started-with-github/github-desktop
  - /github/getting-started-with-github/using-github/github-desktop
  - /get-started/using-github/github-desktop
---

<a href="https://desktop.github.com?ref_product=desktop&ref_type=engagement&ref_style=button" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary mt-3 mr-3 no-underline"><span>Download {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}</span> {% octicon "link-external" height:16 aria-label="link-external" %}</a>

## About {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} is a free, open source application that helps you to work with files hosted on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} or other Git hosting services.

## Benefits of {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} is useful for beginning and advanced users. Benefits include:

* **Get started easily.** If you're new to Git and {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}, you may find it easier to use {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} than to use Git on the command line. {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} has a graphical user interface that simplifies commands and helps you visualize changes.
* **Find commands.** Because {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} has a visual interface, you can easily access less-common Git commands, such as choosing which changed lines to include in a commit or adding a co-author to a commit, without needing to memorize or look up syntax.
* **Follow best practices.** {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} encourages best practices. For example, it helps you to create an accurate and easy-to-follow commit history so other collaborators on a project can easily review your work.
* **Integrate with {% data variables.product.github %}.** {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} is specifically designed for use with {% data variables.product.github %}. For example, you can authenticate to {% data variables.product.github %} or {% data variables.product.prodname_enterprise %} quickly, without needing to use a separate credential manager. You can also check out a pull request to run checks without needing to open your browser.

## {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} workflow

You can use {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} alongside any tools you need to contribute to a project. For example, a typical workflow is:

* Use {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to download a {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} repository to your computer and create a new branch
* Use an editor such as {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} to make changes to the code
* Return to {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to commit and push the changes to {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}

## Getting started

{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} is available for Windows and macOS. For information about installing and getting started with {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}, see [AUTOTITLE](/desktop/overview/getting-started-with-github-desktop).

If you're interested in the open source {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} project, you can see the roadmap, contribute to the project, or open an issue to provide feedback in the [`desktop/desktop`](https://github.com/desktop/desktop) repository.

## Further reading

* [AUTOTITLE](/get-started/using-git/about-git)