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Adding files to a repository is a small, but key, task. No matter where the code,
images, or documents were created, Git tracks them after you add them to your repository.
## Add an existing file
To add an existing file to your repository, either:
- Upload the file from the GitLab UI.
- Add a file to your repository from the command line, then push the file up to GitLab.
### From the UI
If you are unfamiliar with the command line, use the
[Web Editor](../user/project/repository/web_editor.md) to upload a file from the GitLab UI:
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1. On the top bar, select **Main menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. From the project dashboard or repository, next to the branch name, select the plus icon (**{plus}**).
1. From the dropdown list, select **Upload file**.
1. Complete the fields. To create a merge request with the uploaded file, ensure the **Start a new merge request with these changes** toggle is turned on.
1. Select **Upload file**.
### From the command line
To add a new file from the command line:
1. Open a terminal (or shell) window.
1. Use the "change directory" (`cd`) command to go to your GitLab project's folder.
Run the `cd DESTINATION` command, changing `DESTINATION` to the location of your folder.
1. Choose a Git branch to work in. You can either:
- [Create a new branch](../tutorials/make_your_first_git_commit.md#create-a-branch-and-make-changes)
to add your file into. Don't submit changes directly to the default branch of your
repository unless your project is very small and you're the only person working on it.
- [Switch to an existing branch](start-using-git.md#switch-to-a-branch).
1. Copy the file into the appropriate directory in your project. Use your standard tool
for copying files, such as Finder in macOS, or File Explorer in Windows.
1. In your terminal window, confirm that your file is present in the directory:
- Windows: Use the `dir` command.
- All other operating systems: Use the `ls` command.
You should see the name of the file in the list shown.
1. Check the status of your file with the `git status` command. Your file's name
should be red. Files listed in red are in your file system, but Git isn't tracking them yet.
1. Tell Git to track this file with the `git add FILENAME` command, replacing `FILENAME`
with the name of your file.
1. Check the status of your file again with the `git status` command. Your file's name
should be green. Files listed in green are tracked locally by Git, but still
need to be committed and pushed.
1. Commit (save) your file to your local copy of your project's Git repository:
```shell
git commit -m "DESCRIBE COMMIT IN A FEW WORDS"
```
1. Push (send) your changes from your copy of the repository, up to GitLab.
In this command, `origin` refers to the copy of the repository stored at GitLab.
Replace `BRANCHNAME` with the name of your branch:
```shell
git push origin BRANCHNAME
```
1. Git prepares, compresses, and sends the data. Lines from the remote repository
(here, GitLab) are prefixed with `remote:` like this:
