How to Upload Your Source Code to GitHub Using Git in VS Code (With Error Fixes)

So you’ve built something awesome and now want to upload it to GitHub using Git in Visual Studio Code? Great choice!

This guide will walk you through step-by-step commands for uploading your project using Git, and we’ll also cover common errors you may face along the way, plus how to fix them.

Let’s get your project online!

Prerequisites

Before we start, make sure you have:

• Git installed – Install Git
  
• VS Code installed – Download VS Code
  
• A GitHub account – Create one here
  
• A local project folder is ready to upload

Step-by-Step: Uploading Your Source Code to GitHub using Git

1. Open the Project in VS Code

Open your project folder in VS Code, then open the Terminal (Ctrl + ~ or from the menu Terminal > New Terminal).

2. Initialize Git in the Project

git init

This creates a hidden .git folder and turns your project into a Git repository.

3. Add All Files to Git

This stages all files to be committed.

4. Make Your First Commit

This saves your current version as a snapshot.

5. Create a GitHub Repository

Go to github.com:

• Click “New repository.”
  
• Name your repo
  
• DO NOT check the boxes for README, .gitignore, or license
  

Click Create repository

6. Connect Your Local Repo to GitHub

Copy the repository URL from GitHub. It looks like:

Back in VS Code terminal:

7. Set Branch to Main (Optional but Recommended)

This ensures your local branch is named main, matching GitHub’s default.

8. Push Your Code to GitHub

Your code is now on GitHub!

Common Git Errors and How to Fix Them

Error: fatal: not a git repository

Cause: You’re running Git commands in a folder where Git hasn’t been initialized.

Fix:

Error: remote origin already exists

Cause: You already set a remote, but you’re trying to add it again.

Fix:

Error: error: failed to push some refs to…

Cause: Your local branch and GitHub branch have diverged or conflicts exist.

Fix: First, try pulling changes:

Then push again:

Error: Repository not found or Permission denied

Cause: Either the repo URL is wrong, or you’re not authenticated correctly.

Fix:

• Double-check the URL
  
• Make sure you’re logged in to GitHub in VS Code
  
• If using SSH, ensure your SSH keys are set up correctly
  

You can also switch to HTTPS if SSH is causing issues.

Error: branch ‘main’ does not exist

Cause: You’re trying to push a branch that doesn’t exist locally.

Fix: Check your branch name with:

If you’re on master, either rename:

Or push using:

All Git Commands Recap

Here’s the full list of Git commands you’ll use:

Final Tips

• Use a .gitignore file to avoid pushing unwanted files like node_modules/, .env, etc.
  
• Always commit meaningful changes with clear commit messages.
  
• You can repeat git add ., git commit, and git push to update your GitHub repo anytime.
  

Getting Started with Guvi

Enroll in Guvi’s course on Git to learn more about Git commands and its uses. Git plays a major role in a developers life, this course provides a detailed guide on how to use Git locally on your machine. It covers from beginner concepts such as managing local repository, difference between Git and GitHub to advanced concepts such as merging and audit trails along with professional certification.

You Did It!

You’ve now successfully uploaded your project to GitHub using Git in VS Code. If you ran into an error, don’t worry — every developer does at some point. Bookmark this guide or share it with your coding buddies!

Happy coding, and see you on GitHub!