How to Connect SourceTree to GitHub Repository

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Connecting SourceTree to a GitHub repository can simplify version management and collaboration efforts for those working with code. SourceTree is a popular graphical user interface (GUI) client for managing Git repositories. It supports both Windows and MacOS, providing a user-friendly way to interact with and manage your code repository. GitHub, on the other hand, is a platform where you can host your Git repository online, and it is widely used for open source and private projects. Below, you will find a detailed guide on how to link SourceTree to a GitHub repository. We will go deep into the step-by-step process of setting it up, ensuring that you have no trouble managing your repository.

Prerequisites

Before you get started, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

• A GitHub account that already has a repository set up.
• The SourceTree application is installed on your computer. You can download it from the official SourceTree website.
• Basic understanding of Git concepts such as repositories, branches, commits, etc.

Installing SourceTree

If you haven't installed SourceTree yet, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official SourceTree website and download the version compatible with your operating system, Windows or macOS.
2. Once the download is complete, run the installer.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install SourceTree on your machine.
4. After installation, open SourceTree and set up your initial configuration.

Connecting to GitHub

Now that you have installed SourceTree, you can connect it directly to your GitHub account. Follow these steps to do this:

Step 1: Open SourceTree

Launch SourceTree from your computer. You will see the main interface, which includes options for managing your repository.

Step 2: Access the 'Accounts' tab

Inside SourceTree, click on the 'Tools' option in the main menu at the top of the screen. From there, click on 'Options', and a new window will appear. Locate and select the 'Accounts' tab from this window.

Step 3: Add a new account

In the 'Accounts' tab, you will find the option to 'add' a new account. Click on this button. A form will appear which you need to complete with your GitHub credentials.

Step 4: Fill in the account details

Now, you need to provide the following details:

• Hosting Service: From the dropdown, select 'GitHub'.
• Username: Enter your GitHub username.
• Password: Instead of your GitHub password, you must use a Personal Access Token (PAT). This is a secure way to authenticate with GitHub.

To create a personal access token, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your GitHub account.
2. Go to 'Settings', which can be found by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Under 'Developer Settings', find and select 'Personal Access Token'.
4. Click on 'Generate New Token'.
5. Give it a name and tick the scopes or permissions you want the token to have access to. For SourceTree, giving 'repo' access should be enough.
6. Once created, you will be given a token string. Copy this token string immediately because for security reasons, you will not be able to see it again.

Return to the SourceTree account form and paste your personal access token into the password field.

Step 5: Save the account

After filling out all the fields, click 'OK' or 'Add' to save your GitHub account to SourceTree. Your account should now be connected.

Cloning your repository

After successfully linking the account, you can now clone your GitHub repository to your local machine using SourceTree:

Step 1: Go to the 'Remote' tab

In SourceTree, switch to the 'Remotes' tab. This will display a list of your GitHub repositories since your account is now linked.

Step 2: Select the repository to clone

Browse the list of repositories to find the repository you want to clone. Once found, click on the repository to select it.

Step 3: Clone the repository

After highlighting the repository you want, click on the 'Clone' button which is usually located in the top right corner. A prompt asking for the destination path will appear.

• Destination Path: Choose the location on your local drive where you want to clone the repository.
• Name: Optionally, provide a name for the local folder.
• Bookmark: If you want easy access to this repository in the future, consider adding a bookmark to it.

After filling in these details, click on 'Clone.' Now SourceTree will proceed to fetch your code from GitHub.

Performing basic Git operations

After cloning your repository locally, you can start performing basic operations like commit, push, pull, and more. SourceTree simplifies these tasks through its GUI:

Committing to Change

Make changes to your code and return to SourceTree:

1. Go to the 'File Status' tab.
2. Here, you will see the list of files that have been modified.
3. Select the files you want to commit.
4. Add a commit message to describe what changes were made.
5. Click on 'Commit'.

Pushing changes to GitHub

Once the changes are committed locally, you can push them to GitHub:

1. Click the 'Push' button at the top of SourceTree.
2. Select the branch you want to push (usually master or main).
3. Confirm the action, and SourceTree will upload your commits to GitHub.

Removing updates from GitHub

If the remote repository has updates you want to receive:

1. Click on the 'Pull' option in SourceTree.
2. Select the remote branch you want to fetch changes from.
3. After confirming, SourceTree will download the changes to your local repository.

Troubleshooting common problems

Although connecting SourceTree to a GitHub repository is generally easy, problems can sometimes arise. Here are solutions to commonly encountered problems:

Authentication issues

If you encounter problems with authentication (such as incorrect credentials), make sure:

• Your personal access token has not expired. If so, generate a new token.
• You have entered the correct username and token combination in the SourceTree account settings.

Repository not found

If your repository doesn’t appear in the SourceTree remote list:

• Check your network connection. A good connection is required to fetch the remote repository.
• Make sure your GitHub account has the necessary access rights to view the repository.

Push and pull errors

For errors related to push and pull:

• Make sure you are working on the correct branch.
• Check for merge conflicts that can arise when the branch diverges from the remote branch.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you will be able to successfully connect SourceTree to your GitHub repository and perform basic Git operations with ease. Taking advantage of SourceTree's graphical interface, you can streamline version control processes, allowing for better workflow when managing code across teams. Remember to regularly pull updates from the remote repository to stay in sync with your team and push your changes frequently. Happy coding!

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