Installing Flutter on Your Windows, Mac and Android Devices

Quick Overview: Flutter has revolutionized the app development world with its features, functionalities, and abilities to build mobile applications using a single code base. Therefore, Flutter reaches another landmark by allowing developers to build a desktop application for Windows and macOS. To set up an environment development, you should know how to install Flutter in Windows. This is what the entire blog is about. Let’s dive into the world of Flutter on Windows.

Flutter!

The technology and framework itself attract a huge developer community in the world. Every software developer loses their head when they choose Flutter app development for their project. Therefore, Flutter has gained huge popularity in the software industry than any other framework. It’s the best framework that dominates the mobile app market. Some claim it’s the perfect answer from Google to Facebook’s React Native. But hold on! We are not here for any debate.

Let’s get it straight. This guide will help you migrate your existing mobile app to Flutter 2.0. All you have to do is to follow the given steps and install the latest version of Flutter.

So, without any delay, let’s get ahead and understand the installation process on your Windows and macOS.

What’s Flutter?

Developed by Google, Flutter is a mobile app SDK, which allows developers to develop high-quality native interfaces for iOS, Android, Web, macOS, and Linux devices using a single codebase. It allows developers to write a code once and use it on different software devices.

Flutter is a free and open-source framework. The amazing features of Flutter enhance the mobile app development experiences.

Therefore, Flutter is the best choice for every startup.

How to Install Flutter on Windows?

This Flutter installation guide will help you install Flutter on your local Windows system. But before that, you have to ensure that your system meets these minimum requirements.

Minimum System Requirements

• Operating Systems: Windows 7 SP1 or later (64-bit)
• Disk Space: At least 400 MB.
• Tools: Flutter depends on these tools being available in your environment.
• Windows PowerShell 5.0 or newer (this is pre-installed with Windows 10).
• Git For Windows

Installing Flutter SDK

Download the latest version of Flutter SDK from here – Download Flutter SDK for Windows.

Once you download the SDK, it’s time to extract the zip file and move the contained flutter to the desired location for the Flutter SKD.

Here, I am installing Flutter to C:\Flutter

Now, locate flutter_console.bat inside the flutter directory and double-click it to start.

Path Update

If you want to execute Flutter commands in the regular Windows console, consider the given steps to add Flutter to the Path environment variable:

1. Type ‘env’ in the Start Search bar and select - Edit environment variable for your account.

2. Now, check the entry called Path: under User variables .

3. If you don’t find any such entry, append the full path to flutter\bin using; as a separator from existing values.

4. Create a new user variable named Path with the full path to flutter\bin as its value if you don’t find any entry.

Whoa!! Congratulations! You have successfully installed Flutter on your Windows desktop.

Gentle Reminder: You will have to reopen any existing console windows to affect these changes.

Run flutter doctor

Now, run the following command from a console window with the Flutter directory in the above path to determine if there are any platform dependencies you need in order to finish the setup:

C:\flutter> flutter doctor

With the execution of this command, it will check your environment and display the Flutter installation status. Find out the below results for any additional applications you are required to install or further tasks to complement.

How to Install Flutter on MacOS?

Before Flutter installation in macOS, you have to make sure that your system meets these minimum requirements.

Minimum System Requirements

• Operating Systems: macOS [64-bit]
• Disk Space: 700 MB
• Git for macOS

Installing Flutter SDK

Download the latest version of Flutter SDK from here – Download Flutter SDK for macOS.

Download the SDK file and extract it to the desired location.

Now, add the flutter tool to your given path.

Open your bash profile from your terminal to execute this process.

$ sudo vim ~/.bash\_profile

Add your flutter path to the given $PATH variable in bash\_profile.

Suppose, if you have extracted flutter in the folder named Applications, your path will be /Applications/flutter/bin .

Copy this path and add it to the existing $PATH variable using: in between two paths. Then save and close the bash\_profile.

Execute the code $ echo $PATH to check the path again.

Now you can see the added Flutter path.

Run flutter precache in the terminal.

Run flutter doctor

Run the given command to check if there’s another dependency required to install for setup completion (for verbose output, add the

$ flutter doctor

If there are any missing dependencies, add them.

$ flutter doctor checks your environment and shows the result on the window screen. However, it’s not required to install Dart SDK separately, as it’s already bundled with Flutter.

If you are installing Flutter for the first time, you might get a message like this with flutter doctor command execution.

As you can see, you need to do several things using Flutter in the macOS.

So, let’s run the given command to rectify these issues.

Resolve iOS Toolchain Issues

If you use Mac OS Mojave, install Xcode command line tools.

Update iOS-deploy

$ npm install -g ios-deploy

brew does not maintain it any longer, as flutter doctor suggests

Fix License Issue in Android Studio

$ flutter doctor --android-licenses

How to Install Flutter on Android?

• Download the Android Studio and install it.
• Open Android Studio > Android Studio Setup Wizard . This installs the latest version of Android SDK, Android SDK Platform-Tools, and Android SDK Build-Tools, which are essential while developing a Flutter app for the Android system.

Planning to build your next mobile application using Flutter?

Hire Flutter Experts

Set Up Your Android Device

Before going further, make sure that your Android device runs on the Android 4.1 version (API level 16) or higher.

• Enable Developer Options and USB debugging on your device. You can read further on Android documentation.
• Install Google USB Driver for Windows-only.
• Now plug your Android device into the computer using a USB cable. Give access to your device through the computer.
• Now run the flutter devices command to verify that Flutter accesses your connected Android device

Actually, Flutter uses the default version of the Android SDK where your adb tool is located.

If you want to use a different version of Android SDK for Flutter development, then set the ANDROID_HOME environment variable to that installation directory.

Set Up Android Emulator

• Enable VM acceleration on your device.
• Open Android Studio > Tools > Android > AVD Manager and select Create Virtual Device .

• Select a device definition and click Next .

• Select a system image and click Next .
• Click Finish .

Install the Flutter and Dart Plugins – Android Studio

1. Open Android Studio .

2. Open plugin preferences ( File > Settings > Plugins ).

3. Select Browser repositories , select the Flutter plugin and click Install .

4. Click Yes when prompted to install the Dart plugin.

5. Click Restart when prompted.

Tadda! Now, you are one step closer to becoming a Flutter developer.

Flutter and Dart are the right choices if you wish to develop flutter web apps and mobile apps interfaces in a given time.

Wrapping UpSince you are on the verge of developing an app using Flutter app development services, we chose to guide you through this tutorial of Flutter installation on your system.Now you know how to install Flutter on different systems – Android, iOS, and Windows. By following these steps, you have opened up a world of possibilities for developing a robust cross-platform mobile application. We hope this guide helps you with the installation process. But always remember, the key to mastering Flutter lies in practice.If you want to professionally proceed in Flutter development, consider partnering with a renowned Flutter development company that can provide expert guidance, support, and resources.To discuss your project requirements, feel free to consult our experts and explore how we can assist you.