When you create a repository on GitHub, you have the option to make it either public or private. A public repository is accessible to everyone on the internet, while a private repository is only accessible to you, people you explicitly share access with, and certain organization members for organization repositories.
Understanding Repository Visibility
GitHub offers three levels of repository visibility: public, private, and internal (for GitHub Enterprise Cloud users). The visibility you choose determines who can access your repository and its contents.
Public repositories are open to the entire internet, allowing anyone to view, fork, or clone the repository. Private repositories, on the other hand, are only accessible to you and the collaborators you explicitly add to the repository. Organization repositories in GitHub Enterprise Cloud can also have internal visibility, which means they are accessible to all members of the organization.
Changing Repository Visibility
If you want to change the visibility of an existing repository, you can do so through the repository settings. Here’s how:
- Navigate to the main page of your repository on GitHub.
- Click on the “Settings” tab under your repository name.
- In the “Danger Zone” section, click on “Change visibility”.
- Select the desired visibility (public or private).
- Type the name of the repository to confirm the change.
- Click “I understand, change repository visibility” to complete the process.
It’s important to note that changing a repository’s visibility from public to private will not make previously public content private. Any content that was accessible before the change will remain accessible to those who had access to it.
Additionally, changing a repository’s visibility can have implications for certain features, such as GitHub Pages, GitHub Advanced Security, and forks. Be sure to review the caveats outlined in the GitHub documentation before making any changes.