Add files to your branch

You can use Git to add files to a Git repository.

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 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: 

git add <filename>
git commit --amend

Append --no-edit to the commit command if you do not want to edit the commit message.