---
title: Adding an existing project to GitHub using the command line
intro: 'Putting your existing work on {% data variables.product.product_name %} can let you share and collaborate in lots of great ways.'
redirect_from:
- /articles/add-an-existing-project-to-github/
- /articles/adding-an-existing-project-to-github-using-the-command-line
- /github/importing-your-projects-to-github/adding-an-existing-project-to-github-using-the-command-line
versions:
free-pro-team: '*'
enterprise-server: '*'
github-ae: '*'
---
{% data reusables.repositories.migrating-from-codeplex %}
{% tip %}
**Tip:** If you're most comfortable with a point-and-click user interface, try adding your project with {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}. For more information, see "[Adding a repository from your local computer to GitHub Desktop](/desktop/guides/contributing-to-projects/adding-a-repository-from-your-local-computer-to-github-desktop)" in the *{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} Help*.
{% endtip %}
{% data reusables.repositories.sensitive-info-warning %}
{% mac %}
1. [Create a new repository](/articles/creating-a-new-repository) on {% data variables.product.product_location %}. To avoid errors, do not initialize the new repository with *README*, license, or `gitignore` files. You can add these files after your project has been pushed to {% data variables.product.product_name %}.
{% data reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal %}
3. Change the current working directory to your local project.
4. Initialize the local directory as a Git repository.
```shell
$ git init -b main
```
5. Add the files in your new local repository. This stages them for the first commit.
```shell
$ git add .
# Adds the files in the local repository and stages them for commit. {% data reusables.git.unstage-codeblock %}
```
6. Commit the files that you've staged in your local repository.
```shell
$ git commit -m "First commit"
# Commits the tracked changes and prepares them to be pushed to a remote repository. {% data reusables.git.reset-head-to-previous-commit-codeblock %}
```
7. At the top of your {% data variables.product.product_name %} repository's Quick Setup page, click {% octicon "clippy" aria-label="The copy to clipboard icon" %} to copy the remote repository URL.
8. In Terminal, [add the URL for the remote repository](/github/getting-started-with-github/managing-remote-repositories) where your local repository will be pushed.
```shell
$ git remote add origin <REMOTE_URL>
# Sets the new remote
$ git remote -v
# Verifies the new remote URL
```
9. [Push the changes](/github/getting-started-with-github/pushing-commits-to-a-remote-repository/) in your local repository to {% data variables.product.product_location %}.
```shell
$ git push -u origin main
# Pushes the changes in your local repository up to the remote repository you specified as the origin
```
{% endmac %}
{% windows %}
1. [Create a new repository](/articles/creating-a-new-repository) on {% data variables.product.product_location %}. To avoid errors, do not initialize the new repository with *README*, license, or `gitignore` files. You can add these files after your project has been pushed to {% data variables.product.product_name %}.
{% data reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal %}
3. Change the current working directory to your local project.
4. Initialize the local directory as a Git repository.
```shell
$ git init -b main
```
5. Add the files in your new local repository. This stages them for the first commit.
```shell
$ git add .
# Adds the files in the local repository and stages them for commit. {% data reusables.git.unstage-codeblock %}
```
6. Commit the files that you've staged in your local repository.
```shell
$ git commit -m "First commit"
# Commits the tracked changes and prepares them to be pushed to a remote repository. {% data reusables.git.reset-head-to-previous-commit-codeblock %}
```
7. At the top of your {% data variables.product.product_name %} repository's Quick Setup page, click {% octicon "clippy" aria-label="The copy to clipboard icon" %} to copy the remote repository URL.
8. In the Command prompt, [add the URL for the remote repository](/github/getting-started-with-github/managing-remote-repositories) where your local repository will be pushed.
```shell
$ git remote add origin <REMOTE_URL>
# Sets the new remote
$ git remote -v
# Verifies the new remote URL
```
9. [Push the changes](/github/getting-started-with-github/pushing-commits-to-a-remote-repository/) in your local repository to {% data variables.product.product_location %}.
```shell
$ git push origin main
# Pushes the changes in your local repository up to the remote repository you specified as the origin
```
{% endwindows %}
{% linux %}
1. [Create a new repository](/articles/creating-a-new-repository) on {% data variables.product.product_location %}. To avoid errors, do not initialize the new repository with *README*, license, or `gitignore` files. You can add these files after your project has been pushed to {% data variables.product.product_name %}.
{% data reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal %}
3. Change the current working directory to your local project.
4. Initialize the local directory as a Git repository.
```shell
$ git init -b main
```
5. Add the files in your new local repository. This stages them for the first commit.
```shell
$ git add .
# Adds the files in the local repository and stages them for commit. {% data reusables.git.unstage-codeblock %}
```
6. Commit the files that you've staged in your local repository.
```shell
$ git commit -m "First commit"
# Commits the tracked changes and prepares them to be pushed to a remote repository. {% data reusables.git.reset-head-to-previous-commit-codeblock %}
```
7. At the top of your {% data variables.product.product_name %} repository's Quick Setup page, click {% octicon "clippy" aria-label="The copy to clipboard icon" %} to copy the remote repository URL.
8. In Terminal, [add the URL for the remote repository](/github/getting-started-with-github/managing-remote-repositories) where your local repository will be pushed.
```shell
$ git remote add origin <REMOTE_URL>
# Sets the new remote
$ git remote -v
# Verifies the new remote URL
```
9. [Push the changes](/github/getting-started-with-github/pushing-commits-to-a-remote-repository/) in your local repository to {% data variables.product.product_location %}.
```shell
$ git push origin main
# Pushes the changes in your local repository up to the remote repository you specified as the origin
```
{% endlinux %}
## Further reading
- "[Adding a file to a repository using the command line](/articles/adding-a-file-to-a-repository-using-the-command-line)"