X-plore can browse Git repositories directly, without cloning them to your device. It works with any Git server that supports HTTPS: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Codeberg, Gitea, Forgejo, Azure DevOps, or your own server.
Only the folders you open are downloaded. File contents are downloaded when you open a file.
Note: Git repositories are currently read-only. You can browse, view, and copy files from a repository to another location.
Enable Git
Git is hidden by default. Tap Show at the end of the pane’s root list, and check Git.
Add a repository
Expand Git and tap Add server.
- Server: paste the repository address, as you copy it from the web page of the repository (the Code or Clone button), for example:
https://github.com/owner/repository.gitX-plore splits the address into server and path automatically. You can also type just the server name (github.com) and putowner/repositoryinto Path. - Username and Password: leave empty for public repositories. For private repositories, see Login below.
- Label: optional name shown in the list.
Tap Test to verify the connection, then Save.
Supported address forms:
| Address | Meaning |
|---|---|
https://server/path | HTTPS (recommended) |
http://server:port/path | Unencrypted HTTP, e.g. a server on your local network |
server/path | Same as HTTPS |
git@server:path, ssh://… | SSH, not supported yet. Use the HTTPS address of the repository instead. |
Login
Git servers don’t accept your account password for Git access, especially if you use two-factor authentication. Instead, create an access token on the server’s web page, and enter it as the password. As the username, enter your account name.
The token gives access only to what you allow, and you can revoke it anytime. For browsing, read-only access to repository contents is enough.
GitHub
- Open Settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens → Fine-grained tokens → Generate new token.
- Repository access: select the repositories you want to browse, or all of them.
- Permissions → Repository permissions → Contents: Read-only.
- Generate the token, and copy it (it starts with
github_pat_). GitHub shows it only once.
GitLab
Preferences → Access tokens → Add new token, scope read_repository.
Bitbucket
Personal settings → API tokens (or App passwords), with Repositories: Read permission.
Codeberg, Gitea, Forgejo
Settings → Applications → Generate new token, with repository: Read permission.
Repository contents
Each repository shows these folders:
- Default branch (usually
mainormaster): the current source code of the repository. This is what you normally want to browse. - branches: all branches; each one shows the files in its latest version.
- tags: all tags (usually released versions), each with files of that version.
- commits: the 100 most recent commits, newest first. Each commit shows all files as they were in that commit.
Git doesn’t store times of individual files; all files show the time of the commit.
File sizes are shown after a file is downloaded. Some servers (e.g. GitHub) don’t report sizes in advance.
Submodules (references to other repositories) are not shown.
Premium function
Browsing the default branch is free. Opening branches, tags, commits, and their contents requires a donation.