GitHub Desktop "Unable to locate Git"

Symptom

Clicking Repository → Open in Command Prompt in GitHub Desktop shows:

Unable to locate Git
We were unable to locate Git on your system. This means you won't be able
to execute any Git commands in the command prompt.

Cause

GitHub Desktop ships with its own embedded Git, so commits and pushes inside the app work. However, the system-wide git command used in the terminal is not installed.

Fix

• For now, clicking Open without Git still opens the terminal (npm commands work).
• The real fix is to install Git for Windows (git-scm.com, default options). Without it, npm run build fails later. → outside any Git worktree

Takeaway

Even when using GitHub Desktop, install Git for Windows separately.