AAbhinandanHelp Center

Guide

Create Github Repo

17 stepsAgent View (Markdown)

Overview

Creating a GitHub repository establishes a central, cloud-hosted location for your project code and collaboration. GitHub is a platform where developers share code, contribute to open source, and automate workflows. A repository acts as the remote storage for your project, enabling team collaboration, version control, and integration with tools like GitHub Actions. This workflow walks you through the GitHub web interface to set up a new repository with initial configuration—choosing visibility (public or private), adding a README for project documentation, selecting a .gitignore template to exclude unnecessary files, and applying a license to define how others can use your code.

Before you begin

  • A GitHub account. If you don't have one, create an account at https://github.com by following the sign-up prompts.
  • Be logged into GitHub at github.com before starting.
  • Know the name and optional description you want for your repository.
  • Understand your visibility preference: choose Private if only you or invited collaborators should access the repository, or Public if you want it visible to everyone.

Watch the recording

Step by step

1
Switch Tab

Switch to or open your browser tab to access GitHub. This ensures you have a clear browser window ready to interact with the GitHub website.

2
Navigate

Navigate to github.com in your browser. This takes you to GitHub's main interface where you can access repository creation tools.

3
ClickRepository name*

Click the Repository name field (marked with a red asterisk as required). This field is where you enter the name of your new repository.

Tip. Choose a short, memorable, lowercase name with hyphens instead of spaces (e.g., 'my-awesome-project' rather than 'My Awesome Project'). This makes the repository URL cleaner and easier to reference.
Step 3
4
TypeRepository name*

Type your chosen repository name into the Repository name field. This is the public identifier for your project on GitHub.

5
ClickDescription

Click the Description field to enter a brief summary of your repository's purpose. This is optional but recommended, as it helps others (and your future self) understand the project's intent.

Step 5
6
TypeDescription

Type a description for your repository (e.g., 'A mobile app for tracking fitness goals' or 'Utilities for data processing'). This description appears on your repository's main page and in search results.

7
ClickPublic

Click the Public button to view visibility options. By default, Public is selected; clicking it opens a menu to switch to Private if desired.

Step 7
8
ClickPrivate You choose who can see and commit to this repository.

Click the Private option from the menu to restrict your repository to you and invited collaborators. Choose this if your code is confidential or not ready for public sharing. Public repositories are visible to anyone on GitHub.

Tip. Private repositories are ideal for proprietary projects, work-in-progress code, or sensitive business logic. You can always change visibility later in the repository settings.
Step 8
9
ClickAdd README

Click the Add README button to create a README.md file in your repository. A README is the first file visitors see and typically explains what your project does, how to use it, and how to contribute.

Tip. Always add a README—it significantly improves your project's usability and professionalism. You can edit the README content after repository creation.
Step 9
10
ClickNo .gitignore

Click the No .gitignore button to open options for selecting a .gitignore template. A .gitignore file specifies files and folders Git should ignore (e.g., node_modules, build artifacts, secret keys).

Step 10
11
Type.gitignore template filter

Type in the .gitignore template filter combobox to search for a template matching your project type. For example, type 'Android' if you're building an Android app, 'Node' for Node.js, or 'Python' for Python projects.

Tip. The template filter narrows down available options. If you're unsure which template to choose, you can skip this and add or edit .gitignore manually later.
12
ClickAndroid

Click the Android option from the dropdown to select the Android .gitignore template. This pre-populates your .gitignore file with rules for Android development (e.g., build files, IDE settings, emulator data).

Tip. If you're not working on an Android project, select a different template or skip this step entirely. You can always modify .gitignore after creation.
Step 12
13
ClickNo license

Click the No license button to open options for selecting a license. A license clarifies the terms under which others can use, modify, and distribute your code.

Step 13
14
ClickMIT License

Click the MIT License option to apply the MIT license to your repository. MIT is a permissive open-source license widely used in the software community, allowing others to use, modify, and distribute your code with minimal restrictions.

Tip. Other popular licenses include Apache 2.0 (for larger projects), GPL v3 (for ensuring derivative works stay open-source), and BSD (similar to MIT). You can change the license later if needed.
Warning. Choosing a license is important for open-source projects. If you don't select one, others may not know whether they can legally use your code.
15
TypeLicense filter

Type in the License filter combobox to refine your search if needed (this step may be used to confirm or adjust your license selection). The filter helps you find a specific license from GitHub's list.

Step 15
16
ClickCreate repository

Click the Create repository button (a large green button at the bottom of the form) to finalize the creation of your repository with all selected settings.

Tip. After clicking, GitHub processes your request and redirects you to your new repository's main page within seconds.
Step 16
17
Navigate

The page navigates to your newly created repository on github.com. You are now viewing the repository's main page, which displays the README, file listing, and setup instructions.

Tip. At this point, you can clone the repository to your local machine using the Code button (displays your repository's HTTPS or SSH URL), or begin pushing code from an existing local project using the instructions shown on the page.

Confirm it worked

  1. 1After creation, you are redirected to your new repository's main page (URL: https://github.com/[your-username]/[repo-name]).
  2. 2The repository name appears in the page header, and the description is displayed under the repo name.
  3. 3A README.md file is visible in the file listing (if you chose to add it).
  4. 4The .gitignore file (if selected) and License file (if selected) appear in the repository root.

Common issues

Keep reading

Creating a new repository - GitHub Docs

# Creating a new repository [...] You can create a new repository on your personal account or any organization where you have sufficient permissions. [...] > [!TIP] [...] > You can also create a repository using the GitHub CLI. For more information, see `gh repo create` in the GitHub CLI documentation. [...] ## Creating a new repository from the web UI [...] 1. In the upper-right corner of any page, select , then click New repository. [...] 10. Click Create repository. [...] | --- | --- | [...] &owner= [...] -corp` creates a [...] called "test-repo" owned by the [...] -corp" organization. | Any valid [...] name. Spaces [...] be replaced with [...] +` or `%20`. | [...] | `owner` | `https://github.com/new?owner=avocado-corp&visibility=public` creates a public repository owned by the "avocado-corp" organization. | Any valid organization name or username. Alternatively, while signed in use `@me` to specify your user account as the owner. | [...] | `https [...] ocado-corp

docs.github.com

gh repo create - GitHub CLI

## gh repo create [...] ``` gh repo create [<name>] [flags] [...] Create a new GitHub repository. [...] To create a repository interactively, use`gh repo create` with no arguments. [...] To create a remote repository non-interactively, supply the repository name and one of`--public`,`--private`, or`--internal`. Pass`--clone` to clone the new repository locally. [...] `--add-readme` Add a README file to the new repository [...] Disable wiki in the new repository [...] t`,`--team ` The name of the organization team to be granted access`-p`,`--template ` Make the new repository based on a template repository [...] ``` # Create a repository interactively $ gh repo create [...] # Create a new remote repository and clone it locally $ gh repo create my-project --public --clone [...] repository in a different organization $ gh repo create my-org/my-project --public [...] # Create a remote repository from the current directory $ gh repo create my-project --private --source=. --remote=upstream

cli.github.com