Install Git for Windows – Complete Beginner's Guide

Git is one of the most essential tools for modern software development. Whether you're working on a personal project or collaborating with a team, Git helps you track changes, manage different versions of your code, and safely experiment with new features without losing your work.

In this FastAPI course, we'll use Git to manage our source code and GitHub to store our projects online. Before we can do that, we need to install Git for Windows.

This guide will teach you how to download, install, verify, and configure Git on a Windows computer.

What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system (DVCS) created by Linus Torvalds in 2005. It allows developers to record every change made to a project, making it easy to review history, restore previous versions, and collaborate with others.

Unlike cloud storage services, Git tracks the history of every file in your project, making it an essential tool for professional software development.

Why Do We Need Git?

Throughout this FastAPI course, Git will help us:

Track changes in our source code
Restore previous versions if something goes wrong
Collaborate with other developers
Upload projects to GitHub
Download existing projects
Manage different development branches
Maintain a complete history of project changes

Learning Git is an important skill for every Python and FastAPI developer.

System Requirements

Before installing Git, ensure your computer meets these requirements:

Requirement	Minimum
Operating System	Windows 10 or Windows 11
RAM	4 GB (8 GB recommended)
Storage	500 MB free space
Internet	Required for download

Git is lightweight and runs smoothly on most computers.

Download Git for Windows

Always download Git from the official Git website.

Official Download Page

https://git-scm.com/downloads/win

The website automatically detects your operating system and recommends the correct installer.

Install Git for Windows

Step 1

Open your Downloads folder.

Locate the downloaded installer.

Example:

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Git-2.xx.x-64-bit.exe

Double-click the installer.

Step 2

If Windows displays a security prompt:

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Do you want to allow this app to make changes?

Click:

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Yes

Step 3

The Git Setup Wizard will open.

Click:

code

Next

Step 4

Choose the installation location.

The default location is recommended.

Click Next.

Step 5

Select Components.

The default options are suitable for most users.

Recommended options:

Windows Explorer Integration
Git Bash Here
Git GUI Here
Git LFS (Large File Support)
Associate .git* configuration files

Click Next.

Step 6

Choose the Default Editor.

Select:

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Use Visual Studio Code as Git's default editor

If Visual Studio Code does not appear in the list, select another editor for now. You can change it later.

Click Next.

Step 7

Adjust the Initial Branch Name.

Select:

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Let Git decide

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Override the default branch name for new repositories

If available, use:

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main

Modern Git repositories use main as the default branch.

Step 8

Adjust your PATH Environment.

Select:

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Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software

This option allows Git to work from Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Visual Studio Code.

Click Next.

Step 9

Choose the HTTPS Transport Backend.

Keep the default option:

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Use the OpenSSL library

Click Next.

Step 10

Choose the Line Ending Conversions.

Select:

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Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings

This is the recommended option for Windows users.

Step 11

Choose the Terminal Emulator.

Select:

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Use MinTTY (the default terminal of MSYS2)

This provides a better command-line experience in Git Bash.

Step 12

Choose the Default Behavior of git pull.

Keep the default option:

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Fast-forward or merge

Click Next.

Step 13

Choose Credential Helper.

Keep the default option.

Git Credential Manager helps you sign in to GitHub securely.

Step 14

Keep the remaining options as their default values.

Click:

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Install

The installation will take a few moments.

Step 15

Once the installation is complete:

Click:

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Finish

Git is now installed on your computer.

Verify the Installation

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.

Run:

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git --version

Example output:

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git version 2.51.0.windows.1

If a version number appears, Git has been installed successfully.

Open Git Bash

Right-click anywhere inside a folder.

You should see:

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Open Git Bash Here

Click it.

Git Bash provides a Linux-like terminal environment for Windows, making it easier to work with Git commands.

Configure Git (Recommended)

Before using Git, configure your username and email.

Replace the values below with your own information.

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git config --global user.name "Your Name"

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git config --global user.email "your@email.com"

Verify the configuration:

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git config --list

These details will be attached to your Git commits.

Useful Git Commands

Command	Description
`git --version`	Display the installed Git version
`git init`	Create a new Git repository
`git status`	Show repository status
`git add .`	Stage all changes
`git commit -m "message"`	Save changes to the repository
`git log`	Display commit history

We will learn these commands in detail later in this course.

Common Installation Problems

Git command is not recognized

Restart your computer or reopen Command Prompt.

If the problem persists, reinstall Git and ensure Git from the command line is selected during installation.

Visual Studio Code not listed as the default editor

Update Visual Studio Code and reinstall Git, or configure it later using Git commands.

Git Bash missing

Ensure Git Bash Here was selected during installation.

Unable to install

Download Git only from the official website and ensure Windows Defender or antivirus software is not blocking the installer.

Best Practices

Always download Git from the official website.
Keep Git updated.
Use main as the default branch for new projects.
Configure your username and email immediately after installation.
Learn basic Git commands before using GitHub.

Summary

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Git for Windows.

Your computer is now ready for version control using Git. In the next lesson, we will create a GitHub account and connect Visual Studio Code to GitHub so you can back up your FastAPI projects online.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Git free?

Yes. Git is completely free and open-source.

Do I need Git for FastAPI?

While it's not required to run FastAPI, Git is strongly recommended for managing your projects and collaborating with others.

What is the difference between Git and GitHub?

Git is a version control system installed on your computer.
GitHub is a cloud platform where you can store and share Git repositories.

Can I uninstall Git later?

Yes. You can uninstall Git like any other Windows application.

Official Download Links

Git for Windows: https://git-scm.com/downloads/win
Git Documentation: https://git-scm.com/doc
Git Book (Free): https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2