---
title: "Download GitStudio Desktop — macOS, Windows & Linux"
description: "Download GitStudio Desktop v2.6.1 for macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel), Windows 10/11 and Linux (.deb, .rpm, .AppImage). One-line installers included."
url: https://gitstudio.dev/download/
---

Download · v2.6.1

# Get GitStudio Desktop.

The free, open-source Git & GitHub client for macOS, Windows, and Linux. One line to install, a checksum for every build, and the whole source on GitHub. It checks for new versions on its own.

Recommended for your Mac

[Download for macOS · Apple Silicon · .dmg · 2.6.1](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-arm64.dmg)

Intel Mac? [Get the Intel build](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-x64.dmg)

On a different machine? [See every build below ↓](https://gitstudio.dev/download/#all)

All builds

## macOS

Apple Silicon & Intel · macOS 12 Monterey or later

`curl -fsSL https://gitstudio.dev/install.sh | bash`

or with Homebrew

`brew install --cask gitstudiohq/gitstudio/gitstudio`

[Apple Silicon `.dmg`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-arm64.dmg) [Intel `.dmg`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-x64.dmg) [Apple Silicon `.zip`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-arm64.zip) [Intel `.zip`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-x64.zip)

The `curl` line checks the download against `SHA256SUMS.txt`, puts the app in Applications, and clears the quarantine flag, so it opens first time. The Homebrew line taps GitStudioHQ/homebrew-gitstudio by itself and installs the cask, which clears the flag too; add `--force` if GitStudio.app is already in Applications. Took the `.dmg` or `.zip`? The app is ad-hoc signed but not notarized, so macOS says it could not verify it: click **Done**, then **Open Anyway** in System Settings → Privacy & Security. Or, after dragging the app into Applications and before you open it, clear the flag once:

`xattr -d -r -s com.apple.quarantine /Applications/GitStudio.app`

## Windows

Windows 10 or 11, x64

`irm https://gitstudio.dev/install.ps1 | iex`

[x64 `.exe`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-Setup-2.6.1.exe)

The PowerShell line fetches the installer, checks it against `SHA256SUMS.txt`, and runs it. The build is unsigned, so if SmartScreen appears choose **More info → Run anyway**. The installer lets you pick the directory. There is no ARM64 build.

## Linux

x86-64, glibc 2.35+ (Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 or newer)

`curl -fsSL https://gitstudio.dev/install.sh | bash`

[Debian / Ubuntu `.deb`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-amd64.deb) [Fedora / RHEL `.rpm`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-x86_64.rpm) [Universal `.AppImage`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-x86_64.AppImage) [Portable `.tar.gz`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/GitStudio-2.6.1-x64.tar.gz)

The `curl` line checks the `.AppImage` against `SHA256SUMS.txt` and puts it in `~/.local/bin` with a launcher entry. AppImages need `libfuse2` (`sudo apt install libfuse2`; `libfuse2t64` on Ubuntu 24.04), which the packages below do not. Or take a package: on Debian/Ubuntu `sudo apt install ./GitStudio-*.deb`; on Fedora/RHEL `sudo dnf install ./GitStudio-*.rpm`; the `.tar.gz` unpacks anywhere.

**You need Git installed.** GitStudio runs the Git already on your computer and does not bundle one: `xcode-select --install` on macOS (or`brew install git`), [Git for Windows](https://git-scm.com/downloads/win), or your Linux distribution's `git` package.

v2.6.1 · Apache-2.0 · [`SHA256SUMS.txt`](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/app-v2.6.1/SHA256SUMS.txt) & older versions on the [GitHub Releases page](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases).

The app checks for new versions and asks before it downloads. Windows and the Linux AppImage update in place; on macOS it downloads the new `.dmg` to Downloads and opens it — one drag to Applications. The one-line installers check every download against `SHA256SUMS.txt`.

Build from source instead (Node 22+)

`git clone https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio.git`

`cd gitstudio && npm install && npm run dist --workspace apps/desktop`

The installer for your OS lands in `apps/desktop/release/`. On Linux install `rpm` first (`sudo apt install rpm`), or build one target: `npm run dist --workspace apps/desktop -- --linux AppImage deb`. The whole thing is open source, so you can audit it or build it yourself.

Prefer to stay in your editor?

## Get the extension instead.

The same engine, on the VS Code Marketplace and Open VSX — for VS Code, Cursor, VSCodium, Windsurf, and code-server.

![GitStudio extension icon](https://gitstudio.dev/_astro/gitstudio-icon.BVdJQPwL_cQvdf.webp)

### GitStudio for VS Code & Cursor

The whole Git workflow · v1.20.0 · Apache-2.0

`code --install-extension gitstudio.gitstudio`

[Read more & install →](https://gitstudio.dev/gitstudio-extension) [Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=gitstudio.gitstudio) [Open VSX](https://open-vsx.org/extension/gitstudio/gitstudio)

Prefer the raw VSIX? (4.4 MB)

[Download gitstudio.vsix](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/releases/download/ext-v1.20.0/gitstudio.vsix)

`shasum -a 256 gitstudio.vsix`

Expected: `e52f3fee9ae0b3879a7d392cab9f275e95ed3ba6c163ed34247290925030047f`

![Merge Studio icon](https://gitstudio.dev/_astro/merge-studio-icon.DZXfLxFU_Z5wVsp.webp)

### Merge Studio

The focused merge editor · v1.4.1 · MIT + Apache-2.0

`code --install-extension gitstudio.merge-studio`

[Read more & install →](https://gitstudio.dev/merge-studio-extension) [Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=gitstudio.merge-studio) [Open VSX](https://open-vsx.org/extension/gitstudio/merge-studio)

[Compare the two extensions →](https://gitstudio.dev/extensions)

Install questions

## Before you install.

Which macOS build do I need — Apple Silicon or Intel?

Apple Silicon (M1 and later) uses the arm64 .dmg; older Intel Macs use the x64 .dmg. The download page tries to detect your Mac; Safari hides the chip, so when it cannot tell, both builds are offered side by side, and both are always listed below.

How do I get past Gatekeeper on macOS?

The build is ad-hoc signed but not signed with an Apple Developer ID or notarized yet, so macOS says it could not verify GitStudio the first time. The curl installer and the Homebrew cask both clear the quarantine flag for you. If you took the .dmg, click Done on that message and then Open Anyway in System Settings → Privacy & Security; or drag GitStudio into Applications and, before the first launch, run xattr -d -r -s com.apple.quarantine /Applications/GitStudio.app once.

AppImage, .deb, .rpm or .tar.gz on Linux?

The .AppImage runs anywhere with libfuse2 installed (sudo apt install libfuse2, or libfuse2t64 on Ubuntu 24.04) — chmod +x and run it, or let curl -fsSL https\://gitstudio.dev/install.sh | bash place it for you. On Debian or Ubuntu, sudo apt install ./GitStudio-\*.deb; on Fedora or RHEL, sudo dnf install ./GitStudio-\*.rpm; the .tar.gz unpacks anywhere. The packages need no FUSE.

Do I need Git installed?

Yes. GitStudio runs the Git already on your computer and does not bundle one. On macOS, run xcode-select --install for Apple's command line tools, or brew install git. On Windows, install Git for Windows from git-scm.com. On Linux, install your distribution's git package (sudo apt install git, sudo dnf install git). git-scm.com/downloads has every option.

Is there a Windows ARM64 or Linux arm64 build?

No. Windows is x64 only and Linux is x86-64 only. macOS has native Apple Silicon and Intel builds.

How do I install GitStudio with Homebrew?

brew install --cask gitstudiohq/gitstudio/gitstudio — one line. Homebrew taps GitStudioHQ/homebrew-gitstudio by name (there is no homebrew-core formula), and the fully-qualified name is how Homebrew takes your consent for a third-party tap, so there is no brew trust step. The cask clears the macOS quarantine flag after installing. Add --force if GitStudio.app is already in Applications.

Does GitStudio Desktop update itself?

It checks GitHub Releases for a newer version and asks before downloading anything; the question stays until you answer it. Windows and the Linux AppImage update in place and restart into the new version. On macOS the app downloads the new .dmg to your Downloads folder and opens it — one drag to Applications. If you are on 2.2.0, install 2.2.1 or later once by hand; from then on updates ask for themselves.

What are the system requirements?

macOS: macOS 12 Monterey or later, Apple Silicon or Intel. Windows: Windows 10 or 11, x64. Linux: x86-64, glibc 2.35+ (Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 or newer). On every platform, Git itself must be installed; GitStudio does not bundle it.

Bonus

## A built-in MCP server.

The desktop app and the repo both ship `gitstudio-mcp` — a stdio MCP server that exposes your repository's Git to Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, and Windsurf. Read-only by default; writes are opt-in. Setup lives in the [AI & agents docs on GitHub](https://github.com/GitStudioHQ/gitstudio/blob/main/docs/ai-and-agents.md).