Add files to your branch

Use Git to add files to a branch in your local repository. This action creates a snapshot of the file for your next commit and starts version control monitoring. When you add files with Git, you:

  • Prepare content for version control tracking.
  • Create a record of file additions and modifications.
  • Preserve file history for future reference.
  • Make project files available for team collaboration.

Add files to a Git repository

To add a new file from the command line:

  1. Open a terminal.

  2. Change directories until you are in your project’s folder.

    cd my-project

  3. Choose a Git branch to work in.

    • To create a branch: git checkout -b <branchname>
    • To switch to an existing branch: git checkout <branchname>

  4. Copy the file you want to add into the directory where you want to add it.

  5. Confirm that your file is in the directory:

    • Windows: dir
    • All other operating systems: ls

    The filename should be displayed.

  6. Check the status of the file:

    git status

    The filename should be in red. The file is in your file system, but Git isn’t tracking it yet.

  7. Tell Git to track the file:

    git add <filename>

  8. Check the status of the file again:

    git status

    The filename should be green. The file is staged (tracked locally) by Git, but has not been committed and pushed.

Add a file to the last commit

To add changes to a file to the last commit, instead of to a new commit, amend the existing commit:

git add <filename>
git commit --amend

If you do not want to edit the commit message, append --no-edit to the commit command.