Below is a complete, clean Flutter setup guide for Windows (2026 edition), covering Android, Windows desktop, web, and common pitfalls. The steps are future-proof and aligned with how Flutter is officially set up today.

Flutter Full Setup on Windows (2026)

1️⃣ System Requirements

Make sure you have:

• Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)
• At least 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
• ~15 GB free disk space
• Administrator access

2️⃣ Install Git (Required)

Flutter depends on Git.

1. Download Git for Windows from the official site
2. Install with default options
3. Verify:

git --version

3️⃣ Install Flutter SDK

Option A (Recommended): Using ZIP

1. Download Flutter SDK (Windows) from flutter.dev
2. Extract to:

C:\src\flutter

❗ Avoid Program Files (permission issues)

Add Flutter to PATH

1. Open Environment Variables
2. Edit System → Path
3. Add:

C:\src\flutter\bin

4. Restart PowerShell

Verify:

flutter --version

4️⃣ Run Flutter Doctor

flutter doctor

This will show missing dependencies (Android SDK, Visual Studio, etc.).

5️⃣ Install Android Development Tools

5.1 Install Android Studio

1. Download Android Studio (latest stable)
2. During install, ensure:
   • ✅ Android SDK
   • ✅ Android SDK Platform Tools
   • ✅ Android Emulator

5.2 Configure Android SDK

In Android Studio:

• Open Settings → Android SDK
• Install:
  • Latest Android API
  • Android SDK Command-line Tools
  • Build-Tools
  • Platform-Tools

5.3 Accept Android Licenses

flutter doctor --android-licenses

Type y for all.

6️⃣ Install Visual Studio (Windows Desktop Support)

For Windows desktop apps, install:

1. Visual Studio 2022+
2. Select workload:
   • ✅ Desktop development with C++
3. Ensure:
   • MSVC v143
   • Windows 10/11 SDK

7️⃣ Enable Flutter Platforms

flutter config --enable-windows-desktop
flutter config --enable-web

Verify:

flutter devices

8️⃣ IDE Setup (Choose One)

🔹 VS Code (Most Popular)

1. Install VS Code
2. Install extensions:
   • Flutter
   • Dart
3. Restart VS Code

🔹 Android Studio

• Install Flutter plugin
• Restart IDE

9️⃣ Create & Run Test App

flutter create my_app
cd my_app
flutter run

Choose:

• Android Emulator
• Chrome (Web)
• Windows Desktop

🔟 Android Emulator Setup (Optional but Recommended)

In Android Studio:

• Open Device Manager
• Create:
  • Pixel device
  • Latest Android version
• Enable Hardware Acceleration (HAXM / Hyper-V)

1️⃣1️⃣ Common Fixes

Flutter doctor still shows errors?

flutter clean
flutter pub cache repair
flutter doctor -v

Emulator slow?

• Enable Virtualization in BIOS
• Use x86_64 images

1️⃣2️⃣ Optional (Advanced)

Upgrade Flutter

flutter upgrade

Switch Channel

flutter channel stable
flutter upgrade

Enable Windows long paths

git config --system core.longpaths true

✅ Final Check

flutter doctor

You should see no red ❌.

🎯 What You Can Build Now

✔ Android apps
✔ Windows desktop apps
✔ Web apps
✔ iOS apps (when using macOS)