How to install Git Shell

Question

Windows 7 Ultimate

I used to have Git Shell installed. The icon is grey with a cat face. It was either installed by the Git or by GitHub for Windows.

Somehow I've lost it.

I've tried re-installing both Git and GitHub for Windows, but I can't get it back.

Yes it looked similar to the GitHub icon. It was a "git enabled" shell. Maybe they got rid of it ? — BaltoStar, Jul 03 '13 at 20:12

score 39 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:25

39

If you have GitHub for Windows (installed, it should come with your shortcut.

It is a shortcut to:

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\GitHub\GitHub.appref-ms --open-shell

More recent versions of G4W (see answer below) could have it at:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Apps\2.0\...\...\
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Apps\2.0\GitHub\GitHub.appref-ms --open-shell

If that shell complains about the absence of git, launch "G4W" itself, which will extract git.
See "Where is git.exe located?".

As mentioned below, to restore the shortcut, after having run the first command, execute in the Git shell:

github --reinstall-shortcuts

edited May 23 '17 at 12:25

Community

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answered Jul 03 '13 at 20:26

VonC

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Yes I have GitHub for Windows installed and yes I have the shortcut you mention ( light blue icon with cat face ). But I am looking for a shortcut to Git-enabled shell ( dark grey icon with cat face ). I wonder if they removed it in latest G4W installer ? – BaltoStar Jul 04 '13 at 00:05
OK i see that your link does invoke the shell as I expect ... still wonder what happened to the icon though – BaltoStar Jul 04 '13 at 00:17
Thank you so much. The missing icon for the Git Shell was really bothering me. This helped! – Christian Beikov Jul 04 '14 at 16:32
Was having the same issue trying to open the git shell. Cheers VonC!! – Daft Oct 09 '14 at 09:11

score 30 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 11 '13 at 20:48

30

Try running the following command:

github --reinstall-shortcuts

That repaired the Git Shell shortcut for me, and also put the proper icon back.

answered Oct 11 '13 at 20:48

Dan

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Thanks for this. Mine disappeared when I update to Windows 8.1 and subsequently updated Git. – OACDesigns Nov 27 '13 at 20:50

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 13 '13 at 20:36

I found out that the answer that you specifically wanted involves a combination of the previous answers: 1. Running the Git Shell via the command line (Since you lost the shortcut)

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\GitHub\GitHub.appref-ms --open-shell

2. Once youre in the Git Shell run the command in the previous answer

github --reinstall-shortcuts

You'll find the Git Shell with the grey cat icon that originally came with the GitHub setup in the desktop.

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 22 '18 at 11:15

2

Windows 10
Git-2.19.0-64

The Git Shell is installed by default in:

C:\Program Files\Git\git-bash.exe

Try create a shortcut to your desktop, not sure if this answer your question.

answered Sep 22 '18 at 11:15

C.K.

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score 1 · Answer 5 · edited Aug 28 '18 at 05:05

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The direct link for Git Shell is now:

https://git-scm.com/downloads

edited Aug 28 '18 at 05:05

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 17 '17 at 22:42

Lup

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score 0 · Answer 6 · edited May 28 '14 at 18:04

I ran into this same issue today, and since this is the first Google result for my query trying to find a solution, I'll post what I sorted here.

It looks like GitHub for Windows installs some or all of itself into %LOCALAPPDATA%\Apps\2.0\...\...\* and this reference was broken on Git Shell .lnk shortcut on the desktop. The GitHub.exe file pointed to did not exist; the entire path was missing.

I viewed properties on the .lnk file (select Properties from context menu or ALT+ENTER on keyboard with .lnk selected) and clicked the Change Icon button. A message box appeared noting that the path to the old icon file was missing and what the bad path was.

I found the "current" path by poking about in the above noted directory and finding GitHub.exe again. The icon is one of three available in GitHub.exe; I expect this is what some of the other answers (like the reinstall-shortcuts suggestion) accomplish.

Hope this helps someone!

(Which seems to be normal for .NET ClickOnce applications; those ... are randomized/obfuscated/generated so they will look like gibberish. My specific working path, as an example, ended up being: C:\Users\anshou\AppData\Local\Apps\2.0\RZ33EP02.2J7\5OMOZAGM.89T\gith..tion_317444273a93ac29_0001.0003_e68db37a99107794 -- note that this path is not truncated, that is the exact path, double period and all.)

How to install Git Shell

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