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Version: 1.11 (Beta)

Using Git With Godot Launcher

Git keeps a history of changes to your project. Godot Launcher can prepare Git when you create a project or add a repository later from Project Settings.

The result depends on when you add Git:

  • A new project gets the recommended Git files, a main branch, and an initial commit.
  • An existing project gets an empty repository. The launcher does not change or commit its files.

Set up Git for a new project​

Open Projects > New Project and keep Initialize Git Repository enabled.

New Project drawer with Initialize Git Repository enabledNew Project drawer with Initialize Git Repository enabled

The launcher creates .gitignore and .gitattributes, initializes the repository on a main branch, and creates an Initial commit.

The first commit needs your Git name and email. If they are missing, you can add them for this project or all repositories on the computer. You can also skip the first commit. See Troubleshooting for this recovery flow.

Understand the generated Git files​

The generated .gitignore is designed for Godot 4.3 and later. It ignores:

  • Godot cache and generated build directories such as .godot/ and /android/.
  • Generated translations and .NET output.
  • Launcher-managed .vscode/ configuration, which can contain local paths.
  • Common local build/ and builds/ output.

The file also contains commented compatibility rules for older Godot project layouts. Enable only the rules your project needs.

The generated .gitattributes treats detected text files as text and normalizes their repository line endings to LF.

Godot 4.0 and export credentials

Godot 4.0 may store sensitive credentials in export_presets.cfg. The generated template does not ignore this file by default. Read the compatibility warning in .gitignore and uncomment its export_presets.cfg rule before committing that file when it can contain credentials.

If the file is already tracked, follow the git rm --cached -- export_presets.cfg guidance in the generated file. Removing it from the current index does not remove it from Git history. Rotate credentials that may already have been committed.

Add Git to an existing project​

  1. Open Projects.
  2. Click the project's settings button.
  3. Open Source Control.
  4. Click Initialize Git.

This action creates a Git repository in the project folder. It does not add template files, change the branch name, or create a commit.

The project card shows the Git status after initialization.

Parent repositories

Do not use Initialize Git if the project is already inside a larger Git repository. The launcher may create a second repository inside it.