GitHub Folder Downloader: download any directory as a ZIP
GitHub only gives you a ZIP of the whole repository, so a normal GitHub directory download means cloning everything. Paste a URL above and this tool fetches just the folder, sub-directory or file you need — public and private repos, Git LFS files included. Everything runs in your browser.
Why use this GitHub folder downloader
Everything you need to grab a slice of a repo, nothing you do not.
Any sub-directory
Download a single folder or file instead of the whole repository.
Smart tree API
Uses GitHub’s tree endpoint to list thousands of files in a single request.
Private repos
Paste a personal access token to grab folders from repositories you can access.
Git LFS ready
Large-storage files are detected and fetched from the correct media endpoint.
Browser-only
Your token and files never touch our servers — zipping happens locally.
Resilient
Retries failed downloads and gracefully handles huge, truncated directories.
How to download a folder from GitHub in 3 steps
Three steps, no install.
- 1
Paste the URL
Copy the link of any GitHub folder (or file) from your browser’s address bar.
- 2
We list & fetch
The tool reads the directory through GitHub’s API and downloads every file in parallel.
- 3
Get your ZIP
All files are packaged into one ZIP archive that starts downloading automatically.
GitHub directory download: 4 methods compared
Four ways to get a single GitHub folder — pick the one that fits your workflow.
| Method | What you download | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| git clone --depth 1 | The whole repository (shallow clone) | You need the full project and work in a terminal |
| git sparse-checkout | Only the folder you need | You know Git and want just that directory |
| GitHub “Download ZIP” button | The whole repository | You need every file at once |
| GitDownloader (this page) | Only the folder or file you need, as a ZIP | One folder, no install, no sign-up |
GitHub folder & directory download FAQ
Why can’t I just download a folder from GitHub?
GitHub only offers a “Download ZIP” button for an entire repository. To grab a single folder you would normally have to clone the whole repo. This tool lets you download just the directory you need.
Is it safe to enter my GitHub token?
For private repositories you can paste a personal access token. It is stored only in your own browser’s local storage and is sent directly to GitHub’s API — never to our servers. Use a fine-grained token with read-only access to the specific repositories you need.
Does it work with Git LFS files?
Yes. Large Storage files return a small pointer instead of real content, so we detect them and download the actual file from GitHub’s media endpoint.
Are there download limits?
Yes — GitHub’s API is rate-limited (60 requests/hour without a token, 5,000/hour with one). Very large repositories may also hit the tree API truncation limit, in which case the tool falls back to listing folders one by one.
Why are some files blocked?
Google Safe Browsing can flag certain file names. Any file whose name looks like malware is skipped so the rest of the archive still downloads. This is shown in the status log.
Do you store my downloads?
No. GitDownloader is a static website. File contents are fetched by your browser straight from GitHub and zipped locally. Nothing is uploaded to or kept on our servers.