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This version of GitHub Enterprise was discontinued on 2023-01-18. No patch releases will be made, even for critical security issues. For better performance, improved security, and new features, upgrade to the latest version of GitHub Enterprise. For help with the upgrade, contact GitHub Enterprise support.

Managing releases in a repository

You can create releases to bundle and deliver iterations of a project to users.

Who can use this feature

Repository collaborators and people with write access to a repository can create, edit, and delete a release.

About release management

You can create new releases with release notes, @mentions of contributors, and links to binary files, as well as edit or delete existing releases. You can also create, modify, and delete releases by using the Releases API. For more information, see "Releases" in the REST API documentation.

Creating a release

  1. On your GitHub Enterprise Server instance, navigate to the main page of the repository.

  2. To the right of the list of files, click Releases. Releases section in right-hand sidebar

  3. Click Draft a new release.

    Releases draft button

  4. Click Choose a tag, type a version number for your release, and press Enter. Alternatively, select an existing tag.

    Enter a tag

  5. If you are creating a new tag, click Create new tag.

    Screenshot of confirming you want to create a new tag

  6. If you have created a new tag, use the drop-down menu to select the branch that contains the project you want to release.

    Screenshot of dropdown to choose a branch

  7. Type a title and description for your release.

Screenshot of the releases description

  1. Optionally, to include binary files such as compiled programs in your release, drag and drop or manually select files in the binaries box.

    Animated GIF of Providing a DMG with the Release

  2. To notify users that the release is not ready for production and may be unstable, select This is a pre-release.

    Screenshot of the checkbox to mark a release as prerelease

  3. If you're ready to publicize your release, click Publish release. To work on the release later, click Save draft. Publish release and Draft release buttons

Editing a release

  1. On your GitHub Enterprise Server instance, navigate to the main page of the repository.

  2. To the right of the list of files, click Releases. Releases section in right-hand sidebar

  3. On the right side of the page, next to the release you want to edit, click Edit release. Edit a release

  4. Edit the details for the release in the form, then click Update release. Update a release

Deleting a release

  1. On your GitHub Enterprise Server instance, navigate to the main page of the repository.

  2. To the right of the list of files, click Releases. Releases section in right-hand sidebar

  3. Click the name of the release you wish to delete. Link to view release

  4. In the upper-right corner of the page, click Delete. Delete release button

  5. Click Delete this release. Confirm delete release