TortoiseHg is a GUI front-end for Mercurial that runs on Microsoft Windows (on which it integrates directly with File Explorer), Mac OS X, and Linux.
It is written in PyQt (except the Windows shell extension), and the underlying client can be used on the command line.
It is often recommended and preferred for working with Mercurial on Windows.
It is free software released under the GNU General Public License.
TortoiseHg can be used as a client to a git server.
In June 2020, TortoiseHg moved off of bitbucket when they stopped hosting mercurial projects, and found a new home with heptapod.
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What is TortoiseHg?
TortoiseHg by Steve Borho and others is open-source Windows software in the version control category. It ranks 23rd by popularity among version control in this catalogue. It is written in Python. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux and macOS.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides MSI installers for 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 36.6 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 7.0.1, released on April 25, 2025. The version history goes back to May 30, 2021: 12 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 2.9 releases a year. The last update is more than a year old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 84,022 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 11 of our languages. Similar programs include GitHub CLI, Git and Mercurial.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Also runs on Linux and macOS
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
- No update for more than a year
In short: TortoiseHg is an open-source version control tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is TortoiseHg safe to download?
- The file is served by mercurial-scm.org; check that it is the publisher’s official mirror
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
39697EAB1E17684737BDD36D840EABF71A63AA2D75C2B3EDBBFCDF536731D4F9· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- 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
Recent versions
All 12 versions ›12 versions over 4 years · about 2.9 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0.1Latest | April 25, 2025 | 36.6 MB | 32-bit MSI64-bit MSI |
| 6.9 | January 17, 2025 | 36.8 MB | 64-bit MSI32-bit MSI |
| 6.6.3 | February 21, 2024 | 36.7 MB | 32-bit MSI64-bit MSI |
| 6.4.2 | April 19, 2023 | 36.8 MB | 32-bit MSI64-bit MSI |
| 6.3.2 | January 7, 2023 | 36.5 MB | 32-bit MSI64-bit MSI |
| 6.2.2 | September 18, 2022 | 36.5 MB | 64-bit MSI32-bit MSI |
| 6.2.0 | July 16, 2022 | 36.5 MB | 64-bit MSI32-bit MSI |
| 6.0.0 | December 21, 2021 | 31.6 MB | 64-bit MSI32-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id TortoiseHg.TortoiseHg -echoco install tortoisehg -yscoop install extras/tortoisehgmsiexec /i tortoisehg-7.0.1-x64.msi /qn /norestartmsiexec /x {E0CAD29A-A998-4CCE-B36A-3A8963CD34AB} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Steve Borho and others
- Category
- Version control
- Licence
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- foss.heptapod.net
- Written in
- Python
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- MSI
- Other platforms
- Linux, macOS
- Version
- 7.0.1
- Released
- April 25, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 12
- Updates / year
- 2.9
- Chocolatey downloads
- 84,022
- Website
- tortoisehg.bitbucket.io
- winget ID
- TortoiseHg.TortoiseHg
- Chocolatey package
- tortoisehg
- Scoop package
- extras/tortoisehg
- MSI product code
- {E0CAD29A-A998-4CCE-B36A-3A8963CD34AB}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to TortoiseHg
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TortoiseSVN1.14.9.29743TortoiseSVN is a really easy to use Revision control/version control/source control software for Windows. It is based on Apache™ Subversion (SVN)®; TortoiseSVN provides a nice and easy user interface for Subversion.Open source757.7K ↓ -
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Frequently asked questions
Is TortoiseHg free?
Yes. TortoiseHg is open-source software under the GPL-2.0 licence.
Is TortoiseHg safe to download?
The download comes from mercurial-scm.org; 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 TortoiseHg 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.
Can TortoiseHg be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does TortoiseHg run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of TortoiseHg?
The versions page lists all 12 versions with links to their official installer files, back to May 30, 2021.
What are alternatives to TortoiseHg?
GitHub CLI, Git, Mercurial, Git Extensions and GitTools GitVersion. The alternatives page compares them.
