This tutorial explains how to download selected folders and files from any public GitHub repo instead of the whole project. Normally, for any public GitHub repo, you get the option to download the full project in a zip archive. There is no native feature in GitHub which helps to download files and folders of your choice. But, this can be done easily with a very useful and simple Chrome extension, known as “GitZip for github“.
This Chrome extension, once installed, lets you select files and folders of your choice. After that, all of those GitHub repo files and folders can be saved to PC in a zip archive. So, instead of downloading the entire GitHub repo or project, you will get only those files that matter to you.
In the screenshot visible above, you can see that I was able to download only selected GitHub repo sub-directories and files.
How To Download Only Selected Files and Folders from Any GitHub Repos Instead of Full Project Using This Chrome Extension?
This GitZip for github Chrome extension is very simple. The best part is you don’t have to mess with any type of setting to use it.
Step 1: Use its homepage link available at the end of this tutorial and install the extension on your Chrome browser.
Step 2: After installing the extension, open GitHub and access a project. You will see multiple files and sub-folders under the master folder of that particular project. Now, double-click on the blank area of a sub-directory or file. You will notice that a tick mark is added just before that particular sub-directory or file. That means the file/folder is selected. Repeat the same to select other files and folders.
Step 3: After selecting the required files and folders, a download icon will be visible on the bottom right corner. See the screenshot above. Click that option and download process will start. You will see that a “Progress Dashboard” to check the download process. It will show how many files have been fetched and collected in real-time.
Once this process is completed, a Save As window will open. Use that window to selected the destination folder on your PC and all of those GitHub files and folders will be saved in a zip file.
Step 4: This is an important step. If download is not completed and you see a message “rate limit” in the download pop-up, then you need to get a token to upgrade the limit for free. To do that, click the icon of this extension (available on the top right side of Chrome browser) and a pop-up will open. There you will see “Normal” and “Private” option.
Select any of those options and then GitHub page will open prompting you to authorize this extension. Use Authorize GitZip button.
That’s it! It will automatically generate a token for you and save it.
After that, it will redirect you to the same GitHub page where you were downloading the selected files and folders of GitHub project. Now repeat step 1 and step 2 to complete the download. As soon as the download process is completed, Save As window will open. Use that window and then you will be able to save all those GitHub repo files and folders to the destination location of your choice.
You may also try preview GitHub files and check size of any GitHub repo Chrome extensions covered by us.
The Conclusion:
This is simply a very useful extension. Sometimes, I also need to save specific files and sub-directories of a GitHub report instead of the whole project. Now this extension has made it possible and very simple for me. If you also have to download the files and folders from some GitHub repo of your needs, then this extension is definitely gonna help you.
