Flutter Doctor command — What is flutter doctor (2026 Complete Guide)
If you are learning Flutter, the most important command you will ever run is:
flutter doctor
But what exactly is Flutter Doctor?
Why is it so important?
And how do you fix the errors it shows?
This is the most detailed and practical guide you’ll find on flutter doctor in 2026.
What is Flutter Doctor?
Flutter provides a built-in diagnostic command called:
flutter doctor
Flutter Doctor is a diagnostic tool that checks whether your Flutter development environment is properly configured.
It verifies:
- Flutter SDK installation
- Dart SDK
- Android SDK
- Android Studio
- Xcode (macOS)
- Connected devices
- VS Code plugins
- License agreements
In simple words:
Flutter Doctor checks if your system is ready to build Flutter apps.
Why Flutter Doctor is Important
Many beginners install Flutter but skip checking the setup.
That leads to:
- Build errors
- Gradle failures
- Device connection problems
- Android license issues
- Xcode signing errors
Running flutter doctor immediately after installation prevents all of this.
How to Use Flutter Doctor
Open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows) and run:
flutter doctor
You’ll see something like:
Doctor summary (to see all details, run flutter doctor -v):
[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.x.x)
[✓] Android toolchain
[!] Xcode - not installed
[✓] VS Code
[✓] Connected device
Symbols Meaning
- ✓ = Everything is working
- ! = Warning
- ✗ = Error
Flutter Doctor –verbose (Advanced Mode)
For detailed output, run:
flutter doctor -v
or
flutter doctor --verbose
This shows:
- Exact SDK paths
- Tool versions
- Plugin versions
- License status
- Device detection details
Very useful for debugging advanced issues.
Common Flutter Doctor Errors & Fixes
1. Flutter Doctor Android Licenses Not Accepted
Error:
Android license status unknown.
Fix:
flutter doctor --android-licenses
Then press y to accept all licenses.
2. Flutter Doctor No Connected Devices
Error:
No connected devices.
Fix:
- Start Android Emulator
- Enable USB Debugging on physical device
- Check device using:
flutter devices
3. Flutter Doctor Xcode Not Installed (Mac Only)
Error:
Xcode not installed.
Fix:
- Install Xcode from App Store
- Run:
sudo xcode-select --switch /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
- Accept license:
sudo xcodebuild -license
4. Flutter Doctor VS Code Not Installed
Fix:
Install VS Code and add:
- Flutter extension
- Dart extension
5. Flutter Doctor Not Working
If flutter doctor itself doesn’t run:
Check PATH variable.
Windows:
Ensure:
C:\src\flutter\bin
is added to system environment variables.
Mac/Linux:
Ensure:
export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/flutter/bin"
is added correctly.
Flutter Doctor on Windows
After installing Flutter on Windows:
Run:
flutter doctor
It checks:
- Windows SDK
- Android Studio
- Android SDK
- Connected devices
Windows users must ensure:
- Android SDK installed
- Android SDK path configured
- Emulator created
Flutter Doctor on macOS
On macOS, Flutter Doctor checks:
- Xcode
- CocoaPods
- iOS device support
- iOS simulator
macOS setup is more strict because of iOS build requirements.
Flutter Doctor on Linux
On Linux (Ubuntu), Flutter Doctor checks:
- GTK libraries
- Android SDK
- Required dependencies
- Emulator setup
You may need:
sudo apt install libglu1-mesa
How Flutter Doctor Helps Developers
1. Environment Verification
Before coding, ensures tools are installed.
2. Saves Debugging Time
Instead of guessing errors, Flutter Doctor tells you directly what is missing.
3. CI/CD Setup Validation
You can use flutter doctor in CI pipelines to validate environment.
4. Device Troubleshooting
Helps detect USB or emulator issues.
Flutter Doctor Best Practices
- Run after installing Flutter.
- Run after updating Flutter.
- Run after installing Android Studio.
- Run before submitting production builds.
- Use
--verbosewhen facing complex issues.
Advanced Tip: Automating Flutter Doctor
You can add:
flutter doctor -v
to your CI pipeline to validate development environment automatically.
This ensures:
- Correct SDK version
- Correct toolchain
- No missing dependencies
Frequently Asked Questions
What does flutter doctor do?
Flutter Doctor checks whether your system is properly configured to develop Flutter applications.
Why is flutter doctor important?
It prevents environment-related build failures and identifies missing dependencies early.
How do I fix flutter doctor errors?
Run flutter doctor -v to see details and follow recommended fixes like installing Android licenses or Xcode.
How often should I run flutter doctor?
After installation, upgrades, and when encountering build issues.
What does flutter doctor –verbose do?
It shows detailed diagnostic information including tool versions and paths.
Can flutter doctor fix problems automatically?
No. It detects problems and suggests fixes, but you must resolve them manually.