How to Install Flutter SDK on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Flutter is Google’s powerful open-source framework that lets you build cross-platform apps from a single codebase — for Android, iOS, web, and even desktop. If you want to be a productive developer with just one tech stack, Flutter is a solid choice.

This guide will walk you through the step-by-step installation of Flutter SDK on Windows, macOS, and Linux in a beginner-friendly way. Let’s get started!

 

General Requirements

• 4 GB RAM minimum (more is better)
• 2.8 GB disk space for Flutter SDK (not including Android Studio or emulator)
• Stable internet connection
• Git installed
• Preferred code editor (VS Code, Android Studio, etc.)

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1. Installing Flutter SDK on Windows

Step 1: Download the SDK

• Go to flutter.dev and click "Get Started"
• Select Windows
• Download the ZIP file (e.g., flutter_windows_x.x.x-stable.zip)

Step 2: Extract and Set Up

Extract the ZIP to a clean path like C:\src\flutter (avoid spaces in the path).

Step 3: Add to PATH

1. Search "Environment Variables" in Start Menu
2. Edit the system environment variables → Environment Variables
3. Edit the "Path" variable and add: C:\src\flutter\bin

Step 4: Verify Installation

flutter doctor

If you see the checklist, you’re good to go!

Step 5: Install Android Studio

• Download and install Android Studio
• Install Flutter and Dart plugins
• Install Android SDK & emulator

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2. Installing Flutter SDK on macOS

Step 1: Install Homebrew

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Step 2: Install Git

brew install git

Step 3: Download Flutter

• Visit flutter.dev → macOS → Download ZIP
• Extract to ~/development/flutter

Step 4: Add to PATH

export PATH="$PATH:`pwd`/flutter/bin"

Then run:

source ~/.zshrc

Step 5: Run Flutter Doctor

flutter doctor

Step 6: Install Xcode (for iOS)

• Install Xcode via App Store
• Open Xcode → Preferences → Command Line Tools
• Run:

  
  sudo xcode-select --switch /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
  sudo xcodebuild -runFirstLaunch
      

Step 7: Install Android Studio

• Same as Windows steps

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3. Installing Flutter SDK on Linux

Step 1: Install Git & Dependencies

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git curl unzip xz-utils

Step 2: Download SDK

git clone https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git -b stable

Or download ZIP and extract to ~/development/flutter

Step 3: Add to PATH

export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/flutter/bin"

source ~/.bashrc

Step 4: Run Flutter Doctor

flutter doctor

Step 5: Install Android Studio

sudo snap install android-studio --classic

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Tips

• Use VS Code for lightweight projects
• Check Flutter version: flutter --version
• Update Flutter: flutter upgrade

Congrats! You now have Flutter SDK installed on your favorite OS. This is your first step toward building awesome cross-platform apps. From here, try creating your first Flutter app and explore the widgets, layouts, and state management tools.