Creating a fork of a public repository on GitHub allows you to freely experiment with the code without affecting the original project. However, there may be instances when you want to make your fork private and keep your changes hidden from others. Fortunately, GitHub provides an easy way to make your fork private and maintain your privacy.
To make a fork private, you first need to navigate to your forked repository on GitHub. Once you’re on the repository page, click on the “Settings” tab. This will take you to the repository settings.
In the repository settings, scroll down until you see the “Danger Zone” section. Within this section, you will find an option called “Change repository visibility.” Click on the “Change repository visibility” button.
A modal window will appear, giving you the option to change the visibility of your repository. Select the “Private” option and confirm your selection. Your forked repository will now be set to private, and only you or those with whom you explicitly share access will be able to view it.
Making a fork of a public repository private is a useful feature when you want to work on a project privately or collaborate only with a selected group of people. Remember to always respect the original developers’ licenses and terms of use when forking repositories.
Fork Public Repository
A fork is a copy of a repository on GitHub that allows you to freely experiment with changes without affecting the original project. When you fork a repository, you create your own copy of the project which you can modify and customize as per your requirements.
Steps to Fork a Public Repository:
- Log in to your GitHub account and locate the public repository you want to fork.
- On the top-right corner of the repository page, you will find a button labeled “Fork”. Click on it.
- GitHub will take you to a new page where you can choose the account or organization to fork the repository to. Select the desired destination and click on the “Fork” button again.
- Wait for GitHub to create the fork. It may take a few seconds.
- Once the fork is complete, you will be redirected to your forked repository page on GitHub.
- Your forked repository is now private unless you choose to make it public. You can start making changes, creating branches, or adding files as per your needs.
Keep in mind that the forked repository will not automatically sync with the original repository. To update your fork with the latest changes from the original repository, you can create a pull request or use the “Sync” feature available on GitHub.
Forking a public repository is a great way to collaborate on open-source projects, contribute to the community, and learn from others. It gives you the freedom to experiment with the code while keeping the original repository separate and intact.
Guide for Forking a Public Repository
Forking a public repository is a great way to start contributing to an open-source project or create a private copy of the project for your own use. Here are the steps to fork a public repository:
- Open the repository page on GitHub that you want to fork. You can search for repositories or navigate to them through profiles or organizations.
- Click on the “Fork” button in the top right corner of the repository page. This will create a copy of the repository under your GitHub account.
- After forking the repository, you will be redirected to the forked repository’s page. In the top left corner, you will see the repository name with your GitHub username as a prefix.
- If your intention is to make the forked repository private, click on the “Settings” tab located below the repository name.
- Scroll down to the “Danger Zone” section and click on the “Change repository visibility” button.
- A modal window will appear with the “Change repository visibility” option. Select the “Private” option and confirm your selection. Please note that making a repository private may limit collaboration and access.
- Once you have made the repository private, it will be accessible only to you and the collaborators you have invited.
If you want to collaborate with others on the private forked repository, you can invite them as collaborators by going to the “Settings” tab and selecting the “Manage access” option. From there, you can add collaborators by their GitHub usernames or email addresses.
Now you have successfully forked a public repository and made it private. You can freely work on and modify the repository without affecting the original project. Remember to regularly sync your forked repository with the original repository to incorporate any updates or changes.
Choose Public Repository to Fork
Before making a fork of a public repository and making it private, it is important to choose the right public repository. You should consider the following factors:
Purpose of Fork
Determine your purpose for forking the public repository. Are you planning to make changes and contribute back to the original repository, or do you want to create a separate private version for your own use?
Quality and Activeness
Check the quality and activeness of the public repository. Look for repositories that are well-maintained, have regular updates, and have a good number of contributors. This ensures that you will have a reliable and up-to-date codebase to work with.
Licensing
Verify the licensing of the public repository. Make sure that the repository is using a license that allows forking and making it private. Some licenses may have restrictions on forking, so it’s important to consider this aspect.
Community and Support
Look for repositories that have an active community and good support. A repository with an active community means that you can get help and support from other developers if needed.
Once you have considered these factors, you can choose the public repository that aligns with your goals and start the process of forking it and making it private.
Make Fork Private
If you have forked a public repository on GitHub and want to make your fork private, you can follow these steps:
- Navigate to the main page of your forked repository.
- Click on the “Settings” tab located on the right side of the page.
- Scroll down to the “Danger Zone” section.
- Under the “Danger Zone” section, you will find an option called “Change repository visibility”.
- Select the “Change repository visibility” option.
- A modal window will appear asking you to confirm the change. Click on the “Change repository visibility” button to proceed.
- You will be prompted to authenticate your GitHub account.
- After authentication, you will be asked to choose between making the repository public or private. Select “Private” and click on the “Change repository visibility” button.
- Your forked repository will now be set to private and only accessible to you or the collaborators you have added.
It is important to note that making a forked repository private does not affect the original public repository. The changes you make to your forked repository will only affect your own copy.
Change Repository Settings
To make a fork of a public repository private, you need to change the settings of the repository. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Navigate to the Repository Settings
Open the repository you want to change in your GitHub account. In the repository menu, click on the “Settings” tab located at the right-hand side of the repository.
Step 2: Access the Repository Options
In the settings page, you will see a list of options for your repository. Scroll down until you find the “Danger Zone” section. Within this section, there is an option called “Change repository visibility.” Click on the “Change” button next to it.
Step 3: Change the Repository Visibility
After clicking on the “Change” button, a dialog box will appear. In the dialog box, select the “Private” option and click on the “I understand, change repository visibility” button to confirm the change.
Step 4: Verify the Settings
Once you have made the repository private, you will see a confirmation message. To verify the change, go back to the repository main page and look for the visibility label at the top. It should now indicate that the repository is private.
That’s it! You have successfully changed the settings of the public repository to make it private. Now only you and the collaborators you choose can access and view the repository.
