Set up a Git repository

Last modified: 11 February 2024

When you clone an existing Git repository or put an existing project under Git version control, IntelliJ IDEA automatically detects if Git is installed on your computer. If the IDE can't locate a Git executable, it suggests downloading it.

IntelliJ IDEA supports Git from the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2), which is available in Windows 10 version 2004.

If Git is not installed on Windows, IntelliJ IDEA searches for Git in WSL and uses it from there. Also, IntelliJ IDEA automatically switches to Git from WSL for projects that are opened when you use the \\wsl$ path.

If you need to manually configure IntelliJ IDEA to use Git from WSL, go to the Version Control | Git page of the IDE settings  , click the Browse icon in the Path to Git executable field, and select Git from WSL via the \wsl$ path, for example, \\wsl$\debian\usr\bin\git.