`zmk init` issue; FATAL ERROR: can't init: no west.yml found

[tomboblombo]

Hello, following the 'Installing ZMK' guide on the official website, I'm running into issues on the 'Config Repo Setup' step.

I can't seem to find other references to this issue, and I'm unfortunately not skilled enough to debug it on my own. Could anyone offer some insight as to what might be going on?

PS C:\Users\<...>\Documents> zmk init
If you already have a ZMK config repo, enter its URL here. Otherwise, leave this blank to create a new repo.
Repository URL: https://github.com/<...>/blank-slate-zmk-config.git
Enter a directory name (blank-slate-zmk-config.git):
Cloning into 'blank-slate-zmk-config.git'...
warning: You appear to have cloned an empty repository.
Initializing west application. This may take a while...
FATAL ERROR: can't init: no west.yml found in C:\Users\<...>\Documents\blank-slate-zmk-config.git\.zmk\config

System Information:

Device name	<...>
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7840U w/ Radeon  780M Graphics      (3.30 GHz)
Installed RAM	32.0 GB (31.3 GB usable)
Device ID	<...>
Product ID	<...>
System type	64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch	No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition	Windows 11 Pro
Version	26H1
Installed on	‎12/‎17/‎2025
OS build	28000.1
Experience	Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.253.0

[joelspadin]

Based on

warning: You appear to have cloned an empty repository.

it seems you created an empty repository instead of creating it using https://github.com/zmkfirmware/unified-zmk-config-template/tree/main as a template?

[tomboblombo]

Well, that was exactly it.

If I had to hazard a guess as to how I missed it, it's because I was focusing on the web resources and not the cli, and the opened tab was lost in the jumble.
I kind of wish that the web resource also mentioned that the template needs to be cloned, but I also recognize that this understanding is kind of on me, haha.

Thanks for the assistance.