How to use GitHub with Android Studio

UPDATE: This is an old tutorial written for Android Studio Beta. Since then there have been some updates and (although the below will still work) you may find it quicker to follow my updated tutorial How to use GitHub with Android Studio 1.x.

This article will explain how to use GitHub with Android Studio.

Firstly, let’s login to github.com and create a new repository. From the top right corner of the screen, click the + sign and select New repository.



GitHub “New repository” option

Now complete the form to create a new repository called testproject. Leave the Initialize this repository with a README unticked.



GitHub create new repository form

Next, open Android Studio and create a new project. Call your new application TestProject. Click Next to continue.



Android Studio new project window

Leave the next page as default and click Next.



Android Studio “Select the form factors your app will run on” screen

On the Add an activity to Mobile screen select Blank Activity and click Next.



Android Studio “Add an activity to Mobile” screen

In the next screen, leave the default activity name of MyActivity and click Finish.



Android Studio “New file options” screen

Your new project will open in Android Studio. On the top menu, select VCS > Import into Version Control > Create Git Repository.



Android Studio “Create Git Repository” option.

On the next screen, leave it all as default and click OK.



Android Studio “Select directory for git init” screen

Now use Internet Explorer and navigate to the root of your projects folder. Right click and select Git Bash (If you do not see this option, then first install Git for Windows).

When the Git bash screen appears, type:

git remote add origin https://github.com/[username]/[project_name].git

An example of a Git repository URL is: https://github.com/markwint/testproject.git



Entering command into Git Bash

Then press enter. The GitHub remote will be added to your Git repository.

Next, jump back into Android Studio, right click your projects root directory and select Git > Add. This will add all your project files to your Git repository.



Android Studio “Git > Add” option

It will seem like nothing has happened, but trust me, the project files are added.

Now right click the project name again and this time select Git > Commit Directory.



Android Studio “Commit Directory” option

In the next screen, type a Commit Message and select Commit.



Android Studio “Commit Changes” option

If a Code Analysis warning appears, click Commit. (Unless it’s a real project, in which case review and fix the issue before committing!)



Android Studio “Code Analysis” warning

Now, right click the project name, select Git > Repository > Push.



Android Studio “Git Push” option

Check the box Push current branch to alternative branch and leave the branch name as master. Then select push.



Android Studio “Git Push” prompt

Now enter your GitHub Login (email address) and Password. Then click OK.



Android Studio GitHub Remote Login

If it’s all good, you will see this message.



Android Studio Successful Git Push

Now your code is pushed to your GitHub repository. Don’t believe me? Logon and check for yourself.



GitHub repository pushed from Android Studio

Hope that was helpful.

14 Comments

Messerli Vinzenz says:
September 30, 2014 at 8:22 am
Thank you for sharing this, it really helped me!

Reply


mark says:
September 30, 2014 at 6:40 pm
Great, I’m glad you found it useful. How are you finding working with Android Studio so far?

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Prashant Pandey says:
October 14, 2014 at 5:55 pm
thank you sir

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Noman says:
October 28, 2014 at 10:06 am
Thank you.. it works

Reply


mark says:
November 5, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Glad you found it useful!

Reply


amd says:
November 25, 2014 at 11:34 am
I may have entered a wrong password, it says “Push Rejected”. The enter password popup is not showing again. How can I re-enter my password?

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mark says:
December 8, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Hi amd. Did you try to close Android Studio and re-open? This comment is a bit old so did you figure the solution already? If not, let me know.

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Wrolf says:
December 7, 2014 at 5:47 pm
Thank you. Just what I needed.

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mark says:
December 8, 2014 at 5:07 pm
That’s brilliant, glad you found it helpful


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Piotrek says:
December 30, 2014 at 8:36 am
Excellent article – thank you very much!

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Zeeshan says:
January 3, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Thank you so much.. it works!

Reply


Jess says:
January 5, 2015 at 1:04 am
I’m trying to do this with my own project and it keeps giving me “Push rejected: master: rejected”. Any idea why?

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LuditeTechnologies says:
January 15, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Nicely done. I had serious issues with rejections when I was trying from my home but I tried this tutorial again from my office with a different project and it worked flawlessly.

I have one question: My final layout ( the project tree structure, I mean ) looks slightly different from your screenshot at the end. Does that matter at all?

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mark says:
January 15, 2015 at 2:26 pm
Glad it helped you. Not sure regarding the layout, can you send a screenshot to my email: mark (at) winterbottom.me…