How to install old version of Git on Windows 10

Question

I need to downgrade from git version 2.14.2 to version 2.8.1. I've tried downloading the 2.8.1 files from this link, but I'm not actually sure what to do with them to install. There also seems to be conflicting answers in my google search as to whether you need to uninstall the current git version. Please let me know what I should do in order to downgrade git versions. I am using Windows 10.

Answer 1

You can get the installers of Git for Windows for previous versions in the Releases section of the repository on GitHub.

In your specific case, uninstall the current version you have, and install version 2.8.1 that you can download from here:

https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/releases/tag/v2.8.1.windows.1

Alternatively, you can use the portable version too (without having to uninstall the other version you have), but it's quick and easy to install/uninstall Git for Windows with the installer, and later you can always upgrade to a newer version using a newer installer the same way.

Answer 2

I found that sometime it isn't straightforward to find an old version's full installer for on Git for Windows' release page. For example recently i tried to download v2.22.0 for windows. However the latest one on the release page is v2.22.0.windows.2 which doesn't contain full installer, but just MinGit-2.22.0.windows.2 etc. Had to click Next a few times and open each 2.22.0.windows release to find another one v2.22.0.windows.1 actually contains a full installer

Later I found that on Npackd it's easier to find those full installers. Just search Git, and find Git for Windows 64 bit installers and 32 bit installers. All download links point to Git for Windows' official releases on GitHub. Nice eh :) For example Git for Windows 64 bit 2.8.1 full installer is this.