How to recursively add a folder in Git?

Sometimes, when working on a project, a developer may need to add a folder recursively (with all its content) to a Git repository. But how do you do it?

To recursively add a folder to a Git repository you can:

• Use the --all flag.
• Use the --force flag.
• Use a regex.

This article explains those solutions with code snippets.

Let's get to it 😎.

⚠️ The first thing you need to do, is to check the .gitignore file (if it exists) and verify that the folder you are trying to add is NOT ignored. ⚠️

Solution #1 - Use the --all flag

One way to recursively add a folder to a Git repository is to use the git add command with the --all flag.

Here is how to do it:

bashgit add --all

Then, you can commit and push your changes.

Note: If the folder you want to add is empty, you need to add a gitkeep file inside.

Solution #2 - Use the --force flag

Another way to recursively add a folder to a Git repository is to use the git add command with the --force flag.

Here is how to do it:

bashgit add . --force

After, commit and push your changes to a remote Git service (for example, Github, GitLab, or BitBucket).

Solution #3 - Use a regex

One more way to recursively add a folder to a Git repository is to use the git add command with a regex.

Here is how to do it:

bashgit add folder_name/\*

Final thoughts

As you can see, it is simple to recursively add a folder to a Git repository.

Most of the time, the --all flag will do the job for you.

Here are some other Git tutorials for you to enjoy:

• How to fix the "git add" command not working?
• How to undo the git add command?

written by:

Tim Mouskhelichvili

Hello! I am Tim Mouskhelichvili, a Freelance Developer & Consultant from Montreal, Canada. I specialize in React, Node.js & TypeScript application development. If you need help on a project, please reach out, and let’s work together.

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