Quickly get started with GitHub by making an account

This wikiHow teaches you how to sign up for a free personal account on GitHub. Your free GitHub account gives you unlimited access to public and private software repositories and the ability to collaborate with up to 3 users. If you're looking for a more advanced option, you can upgrade to GitHub Pro, which gives you unrestricted access to all repositories, unlimited collaborators, statistics, wikis, and more.

Things You Should Know

  • Go to https://github.com/join to create a GitHub account.
  • You’ll need to verify your email during the signup process.
  • You can upgrade to the Pro, Team, or Enterprise plan if needed.

Steps

  1. 1
    Go to https://github.com/join in a web browser. You can use any web browser on your computer, phone, or tablet to join. Before you can create branches or make any pull requests, you’ll need an account.
    • Some ad blockers, including uBlock Origin, prevent GitHub's verification CAPTCHA puzzle from appearing. For best results, disable your web browser's ad blocker when signing up for GitHub.
  2. 2
    Enter your personal details. In addition to creating a username and entering an email address, you'll also have to create a password. Your password must be at least 15 characters in length or at least 8 characters with at least one number and lowercase letter.[1]
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  3. 3
    Click Verify to start the verification puzzle. The instructions vary by puzzle, so just follow the on-screen instructions to confirm that you are a human. A green checkmark will appear after completing the puzzle.
    • You can switch to an audio challenge by pressing the speaker button under the Verify button.
    • If you see an error that says "Unable to verify your captcha response," it's because your web browser's ad blocking extension prevented the CAPTCHA puzzle from appearing. Disable all ad-blocking extensions, refresh the page, and then click VERIFY to start the CAPTCHA.
  4. 4
    Click the green Create account button. It's below the form, at the bottom of the page. This will take you to an email verification page.
  5. 5
    Verify your email by entering the code. After clicking Create account, you’ll receive an email with a code. Enter this code on the verification page. Entering the code will automatically take you to the welcome page.
  6. 6
    Select your preferences and click Continue. GitHub displays a quick survey that can help you tailor your experience to match what you're looking for. You’ll be sent to the plan selection page after completing the survey.
    • You can skip this survey by clicking Skip personalization at the bottom of the page. Clicking this will take you directly to your GitHub dashboard page with a free account. You can sign up for GitHub Pro at any time.
  7. 7
    Note the types of plans offered by GitHub. There are a few different plans to choose from, varying in the amount of features provided.[2]
    • Free: Unlimited public and private repositories, up to 3 collaborators, issues and bug tracking, and project management tools.
    • Pro: Unlimited access to all repositories, unlimited collaborators, GitHub email support, and advanced insight tools.
    • Team: All of the aforementioned features, plus team access controls and user management.
    • Enterprise: All of the features of the Team plan, plus self-hosting or cloud hosting, priority support, single sign-on support, and more.
  8. 8
    Select the free plan. On the plan selection page, scroll down to click the button for choosing a free plan. This will immediately take you to your GitHub dashboard. You’re ready to download some directories and repositories, or download a file.
    • If you choose a paid plan, you'll have to enter your payment information as requested before you can continue.
    • If you want to upgrade your Github account in the future, click the menu at the top-right corner, select Settings, and choose Billing and plans to view your options.[3]
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What should I do after receiving my email?
    Mohsen Ibrahim
    Mohsen Ibrahim
    Community Answer
    GitHub will send you an activation email with a link to activate the account. Just click the URL in the email you received.
  • Question
    How do I open a new Github account?
    Võ Trần Nhã Linh
    Võ Trần Nhã Linh
    Community Answer
    Just create another email address and start a new one. Follow the structure of this post.
  • Question
    Is it free to create an account on GitHub? Can I get paid on the site?
    Mohsen Ibrahim
    Mohsen Ibrahim
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can create an account for free and use it to host only public repositories, however if you want private repositories, you need to to create a paid account.
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Warnings

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About This Article

Kyle Smith
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Smith. Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This article has been viewed 220,612 times.
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Co-authors: 12
Updated: March 5, 2023
Views: 220,612
Categories: Programming
Article SummaryX

1. Go to https://github.com/join.
2. Fill out the form.
3. Click Create account.
4. Complete the CAPTCHA.
5. Click Choose on your desired plan.
6. Verify your email address.
7. Confirm your plan.
8. Select your preferences.

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