Download Details

Version: 2.56.0.4 (latest)
File size: 63.75 MB
License: Free
Security scan: VirusTotal: 67 of 67 engines say OK (0 flagged)
SHA-256 checksum: 4961a4a8cc778d8b6e00a5819e5fe4d078b754555aff7aedc2d77a5d74c2de80
Developer: The Git Development Community
Supported OS: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8.1
Installers: 64-bit (x64), ARM (Arm64), Offline
Downloads: 10251
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 · 90 reviews
File name(s): Git-2.56.0.4-64-bit.exe, Git-2.56.0.4-arm64.exe

Reviewed by Mohamed Zaki
Tested on Windows 11 and 10 · November 5, 2026 · How we review

Screenshots

Git Bash is the command-line way to use Git on a PC. You get a Bash terminal bundled with the free, open-source version control system that records every change to your code or files.

It suits developers who clone, commit, branch and push without a graphical client in between.

It is worth installing if you write code, manage config files or contribute to open source. The learning curve is real, but the commands work the same on macOS and Linux.

What is Git (Git Bash)?

Git is a distributed version control system that Linus Torvalds created for Linux kernel development. It stores the full history of a project so you can compare, branch and roll back.

On a PC, Git for Windows packages the engine with Git Bash, a Bash terminal that gives you Unix-style commands next to the Git ones.

Git Bash, PowerShell and Command Prompt: why the shell matters

The git commands are identical in every shell. The difference is everything around them: Bash brings pipes, grep, ls, ssh and shell scripts, which most Git tutorials assume you have.

If you follow guides written for macOS or Linux, Git Bash lets you paste the commands as they are.

Tip: if an interactive console program such as the Python prompt hangs in Git Bash, try prefixing it with winpty.

Commits, branches and rebasing from the terminal

Working at the command line exposes the whole feature set: staging single hunks, amending commits, interactive rebase, stashing and cherry-picking. Graphical clients tend to hide or simplify some of these.

The cost is memorization. You need to know what git status and git log are telling you before you start rewriting history.

Tip: the installer sets Vim as the default editor unless you pick another. If you land in Vim by accident, press Esc, then type :q! to leave without saving.

What the Windows installer bundles besides Git

The setup includes the MinTTY terminal, OpenSSH, Git LFS for large files, Git GUI and Git Credential Manager for saving logins to hosts like GitHub.

It also adds an “Open Git Bash Here” entry to the File Explorer right-click menu, which saves a lot of cd typing.

Line endings, default branch names and other Windows quirks

Windows and Linux end text lines differently, so the installer asks how Git should handle conversion. The default (Windows-style on checkout, Unix-style on commit) suits most mixed teams.

The wizard also lets you set the name of the first branch in new repositories, so you can use main instead of master.

Tip: if your team works on Linux servers, ask which line-ending setting they expect before changing the default.

Is the Git for Windows installer clean?

The file on this page was checked with VirusTotal and came back clean. It is the community-maintained Git for Windows build from The Git Development Community, free under an open-source license.

The installer asks before changing PATH, the context menu or file associations, so you can decline what you do not want.

Who should skip Git Bash

If you never want to touch a terminal, a visual client such as GitHub Desktop is a gentler start. It covers clone, commit and push with buttons.

Anyone still on Windows 7 or 8 cannot run current releases, and ARM64 devices need Windows 11.

How to Download & Install

Click the download button at the top of this page to get the EXE installer. It includes Git, the Git Bash terminal and the extras the setup wizard offers.

Step 1: Click the green download button at the top of this page and save the installer.

Step 2: Run the installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.

Run Git the installer

Step 3: Keep the default components on the selection screen and click Next.

default Git components

Step 4: On the Git options screen, choose how Git is added to your PATH. “Use Git from Git Bash only” keeps things contained, while the command line option also lets PowerShell and other tools find Git.

Git Options

Step 5: Pick the bundled OpenSSH option for SSH connections and click Next.

OpenSSH option

Step 6: Leave the remaining screens on their defaults unless you have a reason to change them, then proceed to the installation.

Proceed to Git installation

Step 7: Tick Launch Git Bash, click Finish, and the terminal opens ready for commands.

Launch Git Bash

Installer types

Standard 64-bit EXE installer: the right choice for almost every Windows PC.
ARM64 installer: for Windows on ARM laptops.

The official project also publishes a portable package, but this page offers the standard installers.

System requirements

64-bit PCs: Windows 8.1 or later, which covers Windows 10 and Windows 11.
ARM64 PCs: Windows 11, because the x64 emulation Git Bash relies on is not available earlier.
Older systems: Windows 7 and 8 are no longer supported by current releases.
Hardware: Git is light, and your repositories take most of the disk space.

How to update

Run the newer installer over your existing setup. Your configuration files and settings are kept.

You can also type git update-git-for-windows in Git Bash to check for and fetch a new release.

Fixes for common install problems

“git” is not recognized in PowerShell or Command Prompt: the PATH step was set to Git Bash only. Run the installer again and choose the command line option, or work inside Git Bash.
“Filename too long” errors: run git config --global core.longpaths true, because long paths are off by default.
Garbled non-English characters: Git Bash uses UTF-8 while the Windows console may fall back to a legacy code page. Use the Git Bash window for those repositories.

Pros & Cons

What we liked

Free and open source
Full access to every Git command
Bash scripting built in
Commands match macOS and Linux
Bundles OpenSSH and credential manager

What we didn't like

Steep learning curve for beginners
Terminal first, no modern visual client
Needs Windows 8.1 or later

Best Git (Git Bash) Alternatives

Unreal Engine
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Node.js
JavaScript runtime for building fast servers, APIs and command line tools.

Conclusion

4.7out of 5 · 90 user ratings

Git Bash is only one way to work with Git on a PC, so it helps to see what else is available.

The table compares it with three popular tools by audience, price and standout feature.

App	Best For	Price	Platform	Standout Feature
Git (Git Bash)	Command-line control and scripting	Free	Windows (x64, ARM64)	Bash terminal bundled with the full Git toolset
GitHub Desktop	Beginners working with GitHub	Free	Windows, macOS	Simple visual commit and push flow
TortoiseGit	File Explorer users	Free	Windows	Git actions in the right-click menu (needs Git for Windows)
GitKraken	Visual branch history	Free tier, paid plans for private repos	Windows, macOS, Linux	Interactive commit graph

Final verdict

Git Bash is the most direct way to learn and use Git on a PC. It is free, widely documented, and the skills carry over to any other system.

Beginners who dislike terminals can start with a visual client, though many of those tools need Git for Windows installed underneath anyway.

FAQ

Is Git Bash the same as Git?

No. Git is the version control engine, and Git Bash is the Bash terminal that ships with Git for Windows.

Git also runs from PowerShell or Command Prompt if you add it to PATH during setup.

Why does Windows say “git is not recognized”?

Git is not on your PATH, usually because you chose the Git Bash only option during setup.

Run the installer again and pick the command line option, or open Git Bash instead.

Does Git Bash work on Windows 7 or 8?

No. Current releases need Windows 8.1 or later on 64-bit PCs, and Windows 11 on ARM64.

Support for Windows 7 and 8 ended in 2024 when the underlying MSYS2 runtime dropped them.

Is Git Bash better than PowerShell for Git?

The git commands are the same in both. Git Bash adds Unix tools and Bash scripting.

If you already live in PowerShell, keep using it once Git is on your PATH.

How do I fix “filename too long” errors in Git on Windows?

Run git config --global core.longpaths true in Git Bash.

Long paths are off by default, so this setting lets Git handle deeply nested folders.

Do I need to uninstall my old Git before updating?

No. Run the new installer over the existing one and your settings stay in place.

You can also run git update-git-for-windows from Git Bash.

Found a problem with this download? Report an outdated version, broken link, suspicious installer or incorrect information.

Changelog - What's new in version 2.56.0.4

Changes since Git for Windows v2.56.0(3) (October 22nd 2026)
This is another urgent security bug fix release, addressing CVE-2026-111497.
Bug Fixes
- The executables included in the 32-bit MinGit had corrupt code-signatures, which has been fixed.
- Upgrades the included brotli component to v1.2.1 to address CVE-2026-111497.

Git (Git Bash)