IntelliJ IDEA 2023.3 Help

Manage projects hosted on GitHub

Check out a project (clone)

You can clone a repository that you want to contribute to directly from IntelliJ IDEA and create a new project based on it.

  1. In the main menu, go to Git | Clone. If the Git menu is not available, choose VCS | Get from Version Control.

  2. In the Get from Version Control dialog, choose GitHub on the left.

  3. Log in to GitHub by doing one of the following:

    • If you have a token, click Use token, then paste the token in the Token field, and click Log In.

    • Otherwise, click Log In via GitHub.

      Enter your GitHub credentials in the browser window that opens. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you will be asked to enter a code that will be sent to you by SMS or through the mobile application.

  4. Select a repository from the list of all GitHub projects associated with your account and the organization that your account belongs to.

  5. In the Directory field, enter the path to the folder where your local Git repository will be created.

  6. Click Clone.

    If you want to create a project based on these sources, click Yes in the confirmation dialog. IntelliJ IDEA will automatically set Git root mapping to the project root directory.

Share a project on GitHub

You can add a remote GitHub repository for a project you are developing locally, so that others can view it or contribute to it.

  1. Open the project you want to share.

  2. Go to Git | GitHub | Share Project on GitHub.

    If you have already registered your GitHub account in IntelliJ IDEA, connection will be established using these credentials.

    If you have not registered your account in IntelliJ IDEA, the Login to GitHub dialog opens. Specify your access token or request a new one with your login and password.

  3. When connection to GitHub has been established, the Share Project on GitHub dialog opens. Specify the new repository name, the name of the remote, and enter a description of your project.

    You can select the Private option if you do not want to allow public access to your repository for other GitHub users.

    Share project on GitHub dialog

    The name that you specify in the Remote field will be further visible in the Git | Manage Remotes dialog. For more information, refer to Add a remote repository.

  4. Click Share to initiate a new repository and upload project sources to it.

Jump to the GitHub version of a file

You can jump from IntelliJ IDEA to the GitHub version of a file. IntelliJ IDEA detects which branch is currently active as well as the latest revision of the file, and opens the GitHub copy of the selected file in the corresponding commit in your web browser.

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Select Git | GitHub | Open on GitHub from the main menu.

    • Select a file in the editor or in the Project view, and choose Open In | GitHub from the context menu.

      Opening the GitHub version of the file
    • Select the file in the Project view, press Ctrl+Shift+A, and type Open on Github.

      Opening the GitHub version of the file from the popup
  2. If you are signed in to GitHub, the remote version of the file will open in the browser.

    Otherwise:

    • Enter your GitHub credentials in the browser window that opens. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you will be asked to enter a code that will be sent to you by SMS or through the mobile application.

If you are opening the GitHub file version from the editor, the file will be also automatically scrolled to the current line.

If the file points to more than one remote, you will be prompted to select the appropriate repository.

Last modified: 11 February 2024