---
title: Cloning a repository from GitHub to GitHub Desktop
intro: 'You can use {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} to clone remote repositories to {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}.'
redirect_from:
  - /desktop/contributing-to-projects/cloning-a-repository-from-github-to-github-desktop
  - /desktop/contributing-and-collaborating-using-github-desktop/cloning-a-repository-from-github-to-github-desktop
versions:
  fpt: '*'
shortTitle: Clone a GitHub repo
---
{% tip %}

**Tip:**  You also can use {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to clone repositories that exist on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}.  For more information, see "[Cloning a repository from {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}](/desktop/guides/contributing-to-projects/cloning-a-repository-from-github-to-github-desktop/)."

{% endtip %}

{% mac %}

1. Sign in to {% data variables.product.product_location %} and {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} before you start to clone.
{% data reusables.repositories.navigate-to-repo %}
{% data reusables.repositories.open-with-github-desktop %}
5. Click **Choose...** and, using the Finder window, navigate to a local path where you want to clone the repository.
![The choose button on the URL tab](/assets/images/help/desktop/clone-choose-button-url-mac.png)

  {% note %}

  **Note:** If the repository is configured to use LFS, you will be prompted to initialize {% data variables.large_files.product_name_short %}.

  {% endnote %}

5. Click **Clone**.
![The clone button on the URL tab](/assets/images/help/desktop/clone-button-url-mac.png)

{% endmac %}

{% windows %}

1. Sign in to {% data variables.product.product_location %} and {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} before you start to clone.
{% data reusables.repositories.navigate-to-repo %}
{% data reusables.repositories.open-with-github-desktop %}
5. Click **Choose...** and, using Windows Explorer, navigate to a local path where you want to clone the repository.
![The choose button](/assets/images/help/desktop/clone-choose-button-url-win.png)

  {% note %}

  **Note:** If the repository is configured to use LFS, you will be prompted to initialize {% data variables.large_files.product_name_short %}.

  {% endnote %}

5. Click **Clone**.
![The clone button](/assets/images/help/desktop/clone-button-url-win.png)

{% endwindows %}