How to Make a Private Repository Public on GitHub

By default, GitHub lets you choose whether a repository is private (visible only to you and collaborators) or public (visible to everyone). Sometimes, you may start a project as private and later decide to open-source it, share it with the community, or simply make it publicly accessible.

In this blog, you’ll learn how to change your GitHub repository from private to public — safely and quickly.

Table of Contents

✅ Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure:

You have a GitHub account.
You are the owner of the repository or have admin permissions.
You’ve reviewed the code to ensure no sensitive data (like API keys or credentials) is present.

🛠️ Step-by-Step: Make a Private Repo Public

1. Log in to GitHub

Go to https://github.com and sign in.

2. Go to Your Repository

Navigate to the private repository you want to make public.

Example:

https://github.com/your-username/your-repo-name

3. Click the “Settings” Tab

On the repository page, locate and click the “Settings” tab at the top (⚙️ icon).

4. Scroll to the “Danger Zone”

At the bottom of the Settings page, you’ll find the “Danger Zone” section.

5. Change Visibility

Find the “Change repository visibility” section.
Click the “Make public” button.
GitHub will ask for confirmation — click “I understand, make this repository public.”

You may be prompted to confirm with your GitHub password or two-factor authentication code.

✅ Done! Your repository is now public.

You can now share the URL with others, and anyone on the internet can view (but not necessarily edit) your code.

⚠️ Important Considerations

Data Exposure: Double-check that no sensitive data (like .env files, credentials, tokens) exists in the repo.
Access Control: Making a repo public does not remove your write access or collaborators.
License: If you want others to use your code legally, add an open-source license like MIT, Apache 2.0, or GPL in a LICENSE file.

🏁 Conclusion

Making a private GitHub repository public is simple — but it’s a decision that should be made with care. Ensure your code is ready for the world, and take advantage of the opportunity to share, collaborate, and contribute to the open-source community.