3  Cloning a Repository through a Web Browser

Learning Objectives

  • Understand what it means to clone or download a GitHub repository
  • Successfully copy a repository to your local machine from your browser using the GitHub website
  • Identify common errors and learn how to fix them

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Open the repository you want to copy on GitHub.

  2. Click the blue Code button.

  3. Select Download ZIP.

  4. Save and unzip the file to your computer.

  5. This option gives you the files but does not connect to version control.

Video Tutorial

Troubleshooting

  • Authentication failed: Use a personal access token (PAT) if prompted for a password.
  • Downloaded ZIP doesn’t update: ZIP files are static and will not reflect future changes to the repository.

Additional Resources