How to install Git Shell

Question

Windows 7 Ultimate

I used to have Git Shell installed. The icon is grey with a cat face. It was either installed by the Git or by GitHub for Windows.

Somehow I've lost it.

I've tried re-installing both Git and GitHub for Windows, but I can't get it back.

Answer 1

If you have GitHub for Windows (installed, it should come with your shortcut.

It is a shortcut to:

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\GitHub\GitHub.appref-ms --open-shell 

More recent versions of G4W (see answer below) could have it at:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Apps\2.0\...\...\ C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Apps\2.0\GitHub\GitHub.appref-ms --open-shell 

If that shell complains about the absence of git, launch "G4W" itself, which will extract git.
See "Where is git.exe located?".

As mentioned below, to restore the shortcut, after having run the first command, execute in the Git shell:

github --reinstall-shortcuts 

Answer 2

Try running the following command:

github --reinstall-shortcuts

That repaired the Git Shell shortcut for me, and also put the proper icon back.