MinGit is a minimal, lightweight version of Git for Windows that includes only the core Git command-line tools.
It's designed for automated environments, CI/CD pipelines, and users who need basic Git functionality without the full Git for Windows package, which includes Git Bash, GUI tools, and other utilities.
MinGit offers a smaller footprint and can be used portably without installation.
Publisher’s description
What is MinGit?
MinGit by The Git Development Community is open-source Windows software in the terminals & cli tools category. It is written in C.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit Windows. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.56.0.4, released on October 26, 2026. The version history goes back to February 27, 2023: 25 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 6.8 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (git-for-windows/git) has 9,448 stars. Similar programs include PowerShell, QPDF and Oh My Posh.
Project description on GitHub: “A fork of Git containing Windows-specific patches.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Frequent updates (about 6.8 a year)
- Large user base
In short: MinGit is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained.
Is MinGit safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
E3BF78351FE777FBA47DDEE5950082F8A98BB0F02604FDC7BA3EE2CB68FFA877· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the git-for-windows/git repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Security policy10
- Actively maintained10
- No dangerous workflows10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Fuzzing10
- Licence declared9
- Code review2
- Restricted token permissions0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Pinned dependencies0
- Branch protection0
- Signed releases0
- Static code analysis0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 25 versions ›25 versions over 4 years · about 6.8 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.56.0.4Latest | October 26, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 2.56.0.3 | October 22, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 2.56.0.2 | October 5, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 2.56.0 | September 28, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 2.55.0.5 | August 20, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 2.55.0.4 | August 11, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 2.55.0.3 | July 14, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 2.55.0.2 | July 2, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Git.MinGit -eRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- The Git Development Community
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/git-for-windows/git
- Written in
- C
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 2.56.0.4
- Released
- October 26, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- February 27, 2023
- Versions listed
- 25
- Updates / year
- 6.8
- GitHub stars
- 9,448
- GitHub forks
- 2,881
- Website
- gitforwindows.org
- winget ID
- Git.MinGit
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is MinGit free?
Yes. MinGit is open-source software under the GPL-2.0 licence.
Is MinGit safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install MinGit with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does MinGit run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of MinGit?
The versions page lists all 25 versions with links to their official installer files, back to February 27, 2023.
Can I use MinGit without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to MinGit?
PowerShell, QPDF, Oh My Posh, lazygit and bat. The alternatives page compares them.
