Download a GitHub Folder or Directory in a ZIP File
How to Download a Folder from GitHub
GitHub is one of the most popular platforms for hosting code repositories and enabling collaboration, version control, and project management for developers. Sometimes, you may want to download a folder from GitHub that contains files related to a specific aspect or feature of a project, without downloading the entire repository. In this article, we will show you three ways to do that, using different tools and methods.
download 1 folder from github
Method 1: Download a Folder Using Download Directory
This method uses a third-party tool called , which allows you to download any folder from any public GitHub repository as a zip file.
Navigate to and find the repository with the folder you want to download. Use the search bar at the top of the page to search for the repository by name or keyword.
Click on the folder you want to download. You will see all the files and subfolders inside it.
Copy the folder URL from the address bar of your web browser. Right-click on it and select Copy.
Navigate to in another tab or window of your web browser.
Paste the folder URL in the box at the top-center of the screen. Right-click on it and select Paste.
Press Enter or click on Download.
Wait for the website to process and download the folder as a zip file. Depending on the size and number of files in the folder, this may take some time.
Once the download is. Once the download is complete, you will see a message saying "Downloaded successfully". You can also see the size and name of the zip file.
Click on the zip file to save it to your computer. You may need to choose a location and a name for the file.
Unzip the file using a tool like . You will see the folder with all its contents inside.
Access the folder and use the files as you wish.
This method is simple and convenient, but it has some limitations. For example, it only works for public repositories, not private ones. It also does not preserve the history or metadata of the folder, such as commit messages, timestamps, or authors. If you need these information, you may want to use another method.
Method 2: Download a Repository Using the GitHub Website
This method uses the GitHub website itself to download a repository as a zip file. You can then unzip the file and locate the folder you want inside it.
Navigate to and find the repository you want to download. Use the search bar at the top of the page to search for the repository by name or keyword.
Click on the green Code button at the top-right corner of the screen. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
Select Download ZIP from the menu. A dialog box will appear asking you to save the zip file to your computer.
Choose a location and a name for the file and click Save.
Unzip the file using a tool like . You will see the repository with all its files and folders inside.
Locate the folder you want inside the unzipped repository. You can use the search function of your file explorer to find it by name or keyword.
Access the folder and use the files as you wish.
This method is easy and fast, but it has some drawbacks. For example, it downloads the entire repository, not just the folder you want. This may take up more space and time than necessary. It also does not allow you to choose a specific branch or version of the repository, only the default one. If you need more control and flexibility, you may want to use another method.
Method 3: Clone a Repository Using GitHub Desktop
This method uses a desktop application called , which allows you to clone a repository from GitHub to your computer. Cloning means creating a local copy of a remote repository, so that you can work on it offline or sync it with other services. You can then access the folder you want from the cloned repository.
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Download and install on your computer. Follow the instructions on the website to set up your account and preferences.
Navigate to and find the repository you want to clone. Use the search bar at the top of the page to search for the repository by name or keyword.
Click on the green Code button at the top-right corner of the screen. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
Select Open with GitHub Desktop from the menu. A dialog box will appear asking you to choose a local path for the repository.
Choose a location and a name for the repository and click Clone. GitHub Desktop will start cloning the repository to your computer. Depending on the size and number of files in the repository, this may take some time.
Open GitHub Desktop and click on Current Repository at Open GitHub Desktop and click on Current Repository at the top-left corner of the screen. You will see the name and details of the cloned repository.
Click on Show in Explorer to open the repository folder in your file explorer. You will see all the files and folders inside it.
Locate the folder you want inside the cloned repository. You can use the search function of your file explorer to find it by name or keyword.
Access the folder and use the files as you wish.
This method is more advanced and powerful, but it has some advantages. For example, it allows you to clone any public or private repository, as long as you have access to it. It also preserves the history and metadata of the repository, such as commit messages, timestamps, authors, branches, and versions. You can also update your local folder from GitHub by pulling the latest changes from the remote repository using GitHub Desktop or another tool.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download a folder from GitHub using three different methods: Download Directory, GitHub Website, and GitHub Desktop. Each method has its own pros and cons, depending on your needs and preferences. Here is a summary of them:
Method
Pros
Cons
Download Directory
Simple and convenient
Only works for public repositories; does not preserve history or metadata
GitHub Website
Easy and fast
Downloads the entire repository; does not allow to choose a branch or version
GitHub Desktop
Advanced and powerful
Requires installation and setup; may take more space and time
We hope this article has helped you learn how to download a folder from