diff --git a/github/repos_contents.go b/github/repos_contents.go
index 6d6a437b93c..9932deb873e 100644
--- a/github/repos_contents.go
+++ b/github/repos_contents.go
@@ -20,6 +20,15 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
+// ErrContentsDirectory indicates that the contents are not available for a directory.
+var ErrContentsDirectory = errors.New("contents not available for directory")
+
+// ErrContentsSubmodule indicates that the contents are not available for a submodule.
+var ErrContentsSubmodule = errors.New("contents not available for submodule")
+
+// ErrContentsNoDownloadURL indicates that the contents download URL is empty, which may occur when file size > 100 MB.
+var ErrContentsNoDownloadURL = errors.New("contents download url is empty")
+
 // RepositoryContent represents a file or directory in a github repository.
 type RepositoryContent struct {
 	Type *string `json:"type,omitempty"`
@@ -130,6 +139,10 @@ func (s *RepositoriesService) GetReadme(ctx context.Context, owner, repo string,
 // returned error is nil. Callers should check the returned Response status
 // code to verify the content is from a successful response.
 //
+// DownloadContents returns [ErrContentsDirectory] if the path references a
+// directory, [ErrContentsSubmodule] if the path references a submodule, and
+// [ErrContentsNoDownloadURL] if the file's download URL is empty.
+//
 // GitHub API docs: https://docs.github.com/rest/repos/contents?apiVersion=2022-11-28#get-repository-content
 //
 //meta:operation GET /repos/{owner}/{repo}/contents/{path}
@@ -147,6 +160,11 @@ func (s *RepositoriesService) DownloadContents(ctx context.Context, owner, repo,
 // returned error is nil. Callers should check the returned Response status
 // code to verify the content is from a successful response.
 //
+// DownloadContentsWithMeta returns [ErrContentsDirectory] if the path
+// references a directory, [ErrContentsSubmodule] if the path references a
+// submodule, and [ErrContentsNoDownloadURL] if the file's download URL is
+// empty.
+//
 // GitHub API docs: https://docs.github.com/rest/repos/contents?apiVersion=2022-11-28#get-repository-content
 //
 //meta:operation GET /repos/{owner}/{repo}/contents/{path}
@@ -157,7 +175,11 @@ func (s *RepositoriesService) DownloadContentsWithMeta(ctx context.Context, owne
 	}
 
 	if fileContent == nil {
-		return nil, nil, resp, errors.New("no file content found")
+		return nil, nil, resp, ErrContentsDirectory
+	}
+
+	if fileContent.GetType() == "submodule" {
+		return nil, fileContent, resp, ErrContentsSubmodule
 	}
 
 	content, err := fileContent.GetContent()
@@ -167,7 +189,7 @@ func (s *RepositoriesService) DownloadContentsWithMeta(ctx context.Context, owne
 
 	downloadURL := fileContent.GetDownloadURL()
 	if downloadURL == "" {
-		return nil, fileContent, resp, errors.New("download url is empty")
+		return nil, fileContent, resp, ErrContentsNoDownloadURL
 	}
 
 	dlReq, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "GET", downloadURL, nil)
diff --git a/github/repos_contents_test.go b/github/repos_contents_test.go
index bd0f1562779..dcaf602411e 100644
--- a/github/repos_contents_test.go
+++ b/github/repos_contents_test.go
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_SuccessByDownload(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_FailedResponse(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_FailedDownloadResponse(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	client, mux, serverURL := setup(t)
 
@@ -269,26 +269,50 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_FailedResponse(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_NoDownloadURL(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_NotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	client, mux, _ := setup(t)
 
 	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d/f", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
-		fmt.Fprint(w, `{
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+	})
+
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	reader, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContents(ctx, "o", "r", "d/f", nil)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected error")
+	}
+
+	if reader != nil {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected reader")
+	}
+
+	if resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != http.StatusNotFound {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected response")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_NotFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	client, mux, _ := setup(t)
+
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
+		fmt.Fprint(w, `[{
   "type": "file",
   "name": "f",
   "content": ""
-}`)
+}]`)
 	})
 
 	ctx := t.Context()
-	reader, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContents(ctx, "o", "r", "d/f", nil)
-	if err == nil {
+	reader, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContents(ctx, "o", "r", "d", nil)
+	if err == nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrContentsDirectory) {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected error")
 	}
 
-	if resp == nil {
+	if resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected response")
 	}
 
@@ -297,22 +321,28 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_NoDownloadURL(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_NoFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_Submodule(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	client, mux, _ := setup(t)
 
-	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d/f", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		fmt.Fprint(w, `{
+  "type": "submodule",
+  "name": "f",
+  "content": "",
+	"download_url": "",
+	"submodule_git_url": "http://example.com/submodule.git"
+}`)
 	})
 
 	ctx := t.Context()
-	reader, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContents(ctx, "o", "r", "d/f", nil)
-	if err == nil {
+	reader, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContents(ctx, "o", "r", "d", nil)
+	if err == nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrContentsSubmodule) {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected error")
 	}
 
-	if resp == nil {
+	if resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected response")
 	}
 
@@ -321,26 +351,26 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_NoFile(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_NotFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContents_NoDownloadURL(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	client, mux, _ := setup(t)
 
-	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d/f", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
-		fmt.Fprint(w, `[{
+		fmt.Fprint(w, `{
   "type": "file",
   "name": "f",
   "content": ""
-}]`)
+}`)
 	})
 
 	ctx := t.Context()
-	reader, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContents(ctx, "o", "r", "d", nil)
-	if err == nil {
+	reader, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContents(ctx, "o", "r", "d/f", nil)
+	if err == nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrContentsNoDownloadURL) {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected error")
 	}
 
-	if resp == nil {
+	if resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContents did not return expected response")
 	}
 
@@ -456,7 +486,7 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_SuccessByDownload(t *testi
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_FailedResponse(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_FailedDownloadResponse(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	client, mux, serverURL := setup(t)
 
@@ -503,17 +533,13 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_FailedResponse(t *testing.
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_NoDownloadURL(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_NotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	client, mux, _ := setup(t)
 
 	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d/f", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
-		fmt.Fprint(w, `{
-  "type": "file",
-  "name": "f",
-  "content": ""
-}`)
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
 	})
 
 	ctx := t.Context()
@@ -526,55 +552,109 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_NoDownloadURL(t *testing.T
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected reader")
 	}
 
-	if resp == nil {
+	if contents != nil {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected content")
+	}
+
+	if resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != http.StatusNotFound {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected response")
 	}
+}
 
-	if contents == nil {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_NotFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	client, mux, _ := setup(t)
+
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
+		fmt.Fprint(w, `[{
+  "type": "file",
+  "name": "f",
+  "content": ""
+}]`)
+	})
+
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	reader, contents, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta(ctx, "o", "r", "d", nil)
+	if err == nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrContentsDirectory) {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected error")
+	}
+
+	if reader != nil {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected reader")
+	}
+
+	if contents != nil {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected content")
 	}
+
+	if resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected response")
+	}
 }
 
-func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_NoFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_Submodule(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	client, mux, _ := setup(t)
 
-	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d/f", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		fmt.Fprint(w, `{
+  "type": "submodule",
+  "name": "f",
+  "content": "",
+	"download_url": "",
+	"submodule_git_url": "http://example.com/submodule.git"
+}`)
 	})
 
 	ctx := t.Context()
-	_, _, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta(ctx, "o", "r", "d/f", nil)
-	if err == nil {
+	reader, contents, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta(ctx, "o", "r", "d", nil)
+	if err == nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrContentsSubmodule) {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected error")
 	}
 
-	if resp == nil {
+	if reader != nil {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected reader")
+	}
+
+	if contents == nil || contents.GetType() != "submodule" {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected content")
+	}
+
+	if resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected response")
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_NotFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRepositoriesService_DownloadContentsWithMeta_NoDownloadURL(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	client, mux, _ := setup(t)
 
-	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/d/f", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
-		fmt.Fprint(w, `[{
+		fmt.Fprint(w, `{
   "type": "file",
   "name": "f",
   "content": ""
-}]`)
+}`)
 	})
 
 	ctx := t.Context()
-	_, _, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta(ctx, "o", "r", "d", nil)
-	if err == nil {
+	reader, contents, resp, err := client.Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta(ctx, "o", "r", "d/f", nil)
+	if err == nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrContentsNoDownloadURL) {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected error")
 	}
 
-	if resp == nil {
+	if reader != nil {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected reader")
+	}
+
+	if contents == nil {
+		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected content")
+	}
+
+	if resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
 		t.Error("Repositories.DownloadContentsWithMeta did not return expected response")
 	}
 }