Gitea is a lightweight, self-hosted Git service that provides repository hosting, collaboration tools, and version control management.

This guide explains how to access a Gitea instance, log in, and begin working with repositories.

What You Need Before You Start

Before accessing Gitea, make sure you have:

  • A Gitea account (username and password)
  • The Gitea server URL (e.g., https://git.example.com)

If you do not have an account, you may need to register or request access from an administrator.

Step 1: Access the Gitea Web Interface

  1. Open your web browser
  2. Navigate to your Gitea server URL:
https://git.example.com
  1. You will see the Gitea login page

Step 2: Log In

  1. Click Sign In
  2. Enter your username and password
  3. Click Sign In to access your dashboard

If registration is enabled, you may also see a Register option.

Step 3: Explore the Dashboard

After logging in, you can:

  • View your repositories
  • Access organizations and teams
  • Review recent activity
  • Manage your profile and settings

Step 4: Create or Access a Repository

Create a New Repository

  1. Click the + (plus) icon
  2. Select New Repository
  3. Enter:
  4. Repository name
  5. Visibility (public or private)
  6. Click Create Repository

Clone an Existing Repository

Each repository provides a clone URL.

Example:

git clone https://git.example.com/username/repository.git

You can also use SSH if it is configured.

Step 5: Set Up SSH Access (Optional)

To avoid entering your password repeatedly, you can configure SSH authentication.

  1. Generate an SSH key (if you don’t already have one)
  2. Add your public key in:
  3. Settings → SSH / GPG Keys
  4. Use the SSH clone URL:
git clone git@git.example.com:username/repository.git

Common Features

  • Repositories: Store and manage code
  • Issues: Track bugs and tasks
  • Pull Requests: Propose and review changes
  • Wiki: Documentation for projects
  • Releases: Distribute versions of your software

Tips for Getting Started

  • Use meaningful commit messages
  • Keep repositories organized
  • Set appropriate visibility (public/private)
  • Regularly pull updates to stay in sync

Troubleshooting

Cannot Log In

  • Verify your username and password
  • Reset your password if needed
  • Contact your administrator if access is restricted

Cannot Clone Repository

  • Check repository permissions
  • Ensure the URL is correct
  • Verify SSH keys if using SSH

Conclusion

Gitea provides a simple and efficient way to manage Git repositories and collaborate on projects. Once logged in, you can create, manage, and contribute to repositories with ease.