Alex Ruben
Comprehensive Guide to Downloading and Installing Flutter on Windows 10 & 11 (2025 Edition)
Flutter is an open-source UI toolkit developed by Google that enables developers to create stunning, natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop using a single codebase. This guide will walk you through the complete process of downloading and installing Flutter on Windows 10 and 11 in 2025, ensuring a smooth setup for your development environment. By following these steps, you will be able to efficiently install Flutter and begin building your applications.
Before starting, ensure your system meets the following requirements:
- Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit version)
- At least 1.64 GB of free disk space
- An internet connection to download Flutter
Step 1: Download Flutter SDK
Begin by opening your preferred web browser on your Windows machine. In the search bar, type Flutter and press Enter. Click on the first link that appears, which typically directs you to the official Flutter website. Once on the site, navigate to the Get Started section and select Windows as your operating system.
Scroll down until you find the option to download the Flutter SDK. Click on the link that mentions stable zip file to start the download process. The file is approximately 1 GB, so your download speed will determine how long this takes. Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded zip file in your Downloads folder.
Step 2: Extract the Flutter SDK
Right-click on the downloaded zip file and select Extract All. Choose a destination for the extracted files; we recommend extracting it directly to the C drive for easy access. Click Extract. After the extraction is finished, a new folder containing the Flutter files will appear.
Step 3: Move Flutter to the Desired Location
Navigate to the folder where Flutter was extracted. Right-click on the folder, select Copy, then go to This PC, open the C drive, and right-click in an empty area to select Paste. This places the Flutter SDK in the C drive, making it accessible from any location on your system.
Step 4: Set Environment Variables
To use Flutter from the command line, you need to add it to your system’s PATH. Press the Windows key and search for Edit the system environment variables. Click to open it, and in the System Properties window, navigate to the Advanced tab. Click on Environment Variables.
In the Environment Variables window, find the Path variable under System variables and click Edit. Click on New and paste the path of the Flutter bin directory, which is typically C:\flutter\bin. Click OK to close all dialog boxes.
Step 5: Verify the Installation
To ensure Flutter is installed correctly, open the Command Prompt by searching for CMD in the start menu. In the command prompt, type flutter and press Enter. If Flutter is installed successfully, you will see a series of commands and options displayed, confirming the installation.
Step 6: Additional Setup (if needed)
For a complete development environment, you may also want to install additional tools like Android Studio and configure an Android emulator for mobile development. These tools can be downloaded from their respective official websites.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
If you run into issues during installation or setup, here are a few tips:
- Make sure you have sufficient space on your disk.
- Check your internet connection if downloads are slow or failing.
- If you encounter permission issues, try running CMD as an Administrator.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you have successfully downloaded and installed Flutter on your Windows machine. You are now ready to start creating beautiful applications using Flutter. Don’t forget to explore the official Flutter documentation for more advanced topics and best practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flutter?
Flutter is a UI toolkit provided by Google that enables developers to create natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.
Can I use Flutter on other operating systems?
Yes, Flutter is cross-platform and can be used on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Is Flutter free to use?
Yes, Flutter is an open-source framework and is completely free to use.