First check that Git Bash opens from the Windows Start menu. A missing Explorer shortcut and a missing Git installation are separate problems.

Check the menu and installer options

  1. Right-click a folder in File Explorer. On Windows 11, also check Show more options if that entry appears.
  2. Look for Git Bash Here. If it exists in the extended menu, Git is installed; the shortcut is simply outside the shorter menu.
  3. If Git Bash starts from Start but no Explorer entry appears, rerun the official Git for Windows installer and review its Explorer integration / Git Bash Here component selection.
  4. Finish the installer and open a new Explorer window before checking again.

Installer wording can vary by release. Use the installer linked from the official Git for Windows site. Changing PATH alone does not create an Explorer context-menu entry.

Work without the shortcut

Open Git Bash from Start and navigate to your project. For an example folder on drive C:

cd /c/Users/YourName/Projects/example
pwd
git status

Replace the example with your actual folder. Learn the difference between going to the parent folder and returning to the previous folder. Before closing the terminal, see what exiting Git Bash does and does not save.

Do not delete repositories or edit registry entries as the first troubleshooting step. If the installer cannot change integration on a managed computer, ask its administrator about the allowed installation options.

Sources and verification

Checked against the Git for Windows project and Git documentation. Windows Explorer and installer screens were not independently exercised for this revision.