Last updated: May 2025
Compare changes within GitKraken Desktop using diffs. Learn how to access them, view file history or file blame, and use external tools.
What Is a Diff in GitKraken Desktop?
A diff displays lines added and removed from a file:
- Red indicates removed lines.
- Green indicates added lines.

GitKraken Desktop’s built-in diff viewer includes:
- Word diffing
- Syntax highlighting
- File mini-map
- Toggleable views: Hunk, Inline, Split
- Arrows to navigate between change sets
Use the button to directly edit the file. Learn more in the Editing Files section.
Where Can I Access the Diff?
You can view diffs from:
- Staging area: Click a file to open its diff
- Commit node: Select a commit and click any file
Selecting two commits shows the differences between them.

You can also select multiple commit rows using Shift + Click to show a combined diff:

Hunk View
Displays only the changed blocks of a file.

Inline View
Displays changes within the full context of the file.

Split View
Displays changes side-by-side, with the original file on the left and the updated version on the right.

External Diff Tools
Configure an external diff tool in Preferences External Tools:

Supported tools include:
- Beyond Compare
- FileMerge
- Kaleidoscope
- KDiff
- Araxis
- P4Merge
If a supported tool does not appear in the dropdown, verify that its command line tools are installed.

To use a different diff tool, go to Preferences General and set the Diff Tool to Git Config Default. Then add the appropriate configuration in your global .gitconfig
:
macOS
[diff]
tool = meld
[difftool "meld"]
cmd = open -a Meld --args "$LOCAL" "$REMOTE"
Linux
[diff]
tool = meld
[difftool "meld"]
cmd = meld "$LOCAL" "$REMOTE"
Windows
[diff]
tool = meld
[difftool]
prompt = false
[difftool "meld"]
cmd = meld "$LOCAL" "$REMOTE"
Diff a WIP
To compare your Work in Progress (WIP) with another commit or branch:
- Use Ctrl/Cmd + click to select the WIP and another commit
- Or, right-click a commit or branch and select Compare commit against working directory

File Blame and History
Access File History and File Blame from the file diff view. Options appear in the upper-right corner.

Alternatively, right-click a file after selecting a commit in the graph.

File Blame color-codes each line or hunk by author.

Use the toggle in the top-right to switch between Diff View (showing changes) and File View (showing the full file with blame).
Patch
A patch (or patch file) records the differences between files. Patches allow users to share changes without pushing them to a remote repository.
Create Patch from File(s)
To create a patch:
- Right-click a commit and choose Create patch from commit
- Right-click a file and choose Create patch from file changes
You will be prompted to name the patch file.


You can also multi-select files or commits using Shift or Cmd/Ctrl + click, then right-click to create a patch.

Create Patch from Command Palette
Launch the Command Palette from the toolbar or with Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P, then search for “Create Patch.”

Apply Patch from Command Palette
To apply a patch:
- Open the Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P)
- Type “Apply Patch” and select the command
- Choose your
.patch
file in the file explorer

Note: GitKraken Desktop does not currently support generating patches from binary files. This is a preliminary release. For feedback, contact our support team.