---
title: Configuring a default editor in GitHub Desktop
intro: 'You can configure {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to open files in your project with your preferred text editor or integrated development environment (IDE).'
redirect_from:
  - /desktop/getting-started-with-github-desktop/configuring-a-default-editor
  - /desktop/installing-and-configuring-github-desktop/configuring-a-default-editor
  - /desktop/installing-and-configuring-github-desktop/configuring-and-customizing-github-desktop/configuring-a-default-editor
  - /desktop/installing-and-configuring-github-desktop/configuring-and-customizing-github-desktop/configuring-a-default-editor-in-github-desktop
versions:
  feature: desktop
shortTitle: Configure default editor
---
## Supported editors

{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} supports the following editors. If you installed an editor while {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} was open you will need to quit and reopen {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} in order for the editor to be detected.

{% mac %}

- [MacVim](https://macvim-dev.github.io/macvim/)
- [{% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %}](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
- [Visual Studio Codium](https://vscodium.com/)
- [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/)
- [BBEdit](http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/)
- [JetBrains WebStorm](https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/)
- [JetBrains PhpStorm](https://www.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/)
- [JetBrains Rider](https://www.jetbrains.com/rider/)
- [JetBrains PyCharm](https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/)
- [JetBrains RubyMine](https://www.jetbrains.com/rubymine/)
- [JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/)
- [JetBrains GoLand](https://www.jetbrains.com/go/)
- [JetBrains Fleet](https://www.jetbrains.com/fleet/)
- [JetBrains DataSpell](https://www.jetbrains.com/dataspell/)
- [TextMate](https://macromates.com/)
- [Brackets](http://brackets.io/)
  - To use Brackets with {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}, you must install the Command Line shortcut. To install the shortcut, open Brackets, click **File** in the menu bar, then click **Install Command Line Shortcut**.
- [Typora](https://typora.io/)
- [CodeRunner](https://coderunnerapp.com/)
- [SlickEdit](https://www.slickedit.com/)
- [Xcode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/)
- [RStudio](https://rstudio.com/)
- [Nova](https://nova.app/)
- [Android Studio](https://developer.android.com/studio)
- [Aptana Studio](http://www.aptana.com/)
- [Neovide](https://neovide.dev/)
- [Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/)
- [Lite XL](https://lite-xl.com/)
- [Pulsar](https://pulsar-edit.dev/)
- [Zed](https://zed.dev/)

{% endmac %}

{% windows %}

- [{% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %}](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
- [Visual Studio Codium](https://vscodium.com/)
- [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/)
- [ColdFusion Builder](https://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion-builder.html)
- [Typora](https://typora.io/)
- [SlickEdit](https://www.slickedit.com/)
- [JetBrains IntelliJ Idea](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/)
- [JetBrains WebStorm](https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/)
- [JetBrains PhpStorm](https://www.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/)
- [JetBrains Rider](https://www.jetbrains.com/rider/)
- [JetBrains CLion](https://www.jetbrains.com/clion/)
- [JetBrains PyCharm](https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/)
- [JetBrains RubyMine](https://www.jetbrains.com/rubymine/)
- [JetBrains GoLand](https://www.jetbrains.com/go/)
- [JetBrains Fleet](https://www.jetbrains.com/fleet/)
- [JetBrains DataSpell](https://www.jetbrains.com/dataspell/)
- [Android Studio](https://developer.android.com/studio)
- [Brackets](http://brackets.io/)
- [Notepad++](https://notepad-plus-plus.org/)
- [RStudio](https://rstudio.com/)
- [Aptana Studio](http://www.aptana.com/)

{% endwindows %}

## Configuring a default editor

{% mac %}

{% data reusables.desktop.mac-select-desktop-menu %}
1. In the Preferences window, select **Integrations**.
   ![Screenshot of the "Preferences" window. In the left sidebar, the "Integrations" option is highlighted in blue and outlined in orange.](/assets/images/help/desktop/mac-select-integrations-pane.png)
1. Under "External Editor", use the dropdown menu to select the editor you want to set as your default.
1. Click **Save**.

{% endmac %}

{% windows %}

{% data reusables.desktop.windows-choose-options %}
1. In the Options window, select **Integrations**.
   ![Screenshot of the "Options" window. In the left sidebar, the "Integrations" option is highlighted in blue and outlined in orange.](/assets/images/help/desktop/windows-select-integrations-pane.png)
1. Under "External Editor", use the dropdown menu to select the editor you want to set as your default.
1. Click **Save**.

{% endwindows %}

## Opening a repository in the default editor

To open the current repository in the default editor, you can use the menu bar:

1. In the menu bar, select **Repository**.
1. Click **Open in default editor**

If you want to open another repository in the default editor, you can use the repository list.

1. In the upper-left corner of {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}, to the right of the current repository name, click {% octicon "triangle-down" aria-label="The triangle-down icon" %}.
1. Right-click the repository, then click **Open in default editor**.

{% tip %}

{% mac %}

**Tip:** You can use the <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Command</kbd>+<kbd>A</kbd> keyboard shortcut to open a repository in the default editor.

{% endmac %}

{% windows %}

**Tip:** You can use the <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>A</kbd> keyboard shortcut to open a repository in the default editor.

{% endwindows %}

{% endtip %}

## Opening a file in the default editor

1. Navigate to the "Changes" tab in the left sidebar.
1. Double-click on the file, or right-click on the file and select **Open in default editor**.