dart - "Initializing the Flutter SDK. This may take a few minutes."on vs code - Stack Overflow

Whenever I am opening any project on VS Code. I am getting this message: "Initializing the Flutter SDK. This may take a few minutes." It's been 40 minutes but still I am getting the same message.

I have tried closing and opening VS Code, waiting for sometime for it to respond, but it is still not working. What can I try next?

Whenever I am opening any project on VS Code. I am getting this message: "Initializing the Flutter SDK. This may take a few minutes." It's been 40 minutes but still I am getting the same message.

I have tried closing and opening VS Code, waiting for sometime for it to respond, but it is still not working. What can I try next?

• flutter
• dart
• visual-studio-code
• sdk
• initializing

Share Improve this question Follow edited Feb 6 at 20:30 halfer 20.4k1919 gold badges109109 silver badges202202 bronze badges asked Jan 31 at 5:49 Tanaya Singh INTanaya Singh IN 1 2

• 1 Please clarify your specific problem or provide additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it's hard to tell exactly what you're asking. – Community Bot Commented Jan 31 at 6:58
• Try launching VS Code from the console, in case it puts out some logs/errors there. – halfer Commented Feb 6 at 20:30

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1 Answer 1

Sorted by: Reset to default 0

Here are some of the solutions I have:

Solution 1: Clear Windows Temporary Cache

Temporary files or corrupted cache can cause unexpected issues. Follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type temp and press Enter → delete all files in this folder (skip any in-use files).
3. Repeat with %temp% to clear user-specific temporary files.
4. Restart your computer to ensure changes take effect.

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Solution 2: Verify Flutter SDK Path in System Environment Variables

Ensure Flutter’s bin directory is correctly added to your system PATH:

1. Open System Properties:
   • Search for "Environment Variables" in the Windows search bar.
   • Click "Edit the system environment variables".
2. Under the System Variables section:
   • Select Path → Click Edit.
   • Confirm C:\flutter\bin (or your Flutter SDK path) is listed.
     • If missing, add it manually.
3. Save changes and restart your terminal/IDE to apply the updated PATH.

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My Last Solution: Check Flutter SDK Path in VS Code

Ensure VS Code uses the same Flutter SDK as your system PATH:

1. Open VS Code → Go to File > Preferences > Settings (or press Ctrl + ,).
2. Search for Flutter: Sdk Path in the settings.
3. Verify the path matches your Flutter SDK’s bin directory (e.g., C:\flutter\bin).
4. Restart VS Code after making changes.

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Additional Notes:

• Use flutter doctor -v in the terminal to diagnose further issues.
• Ensure no typos in paths (e.g., \flutter\bin, not /flutter/bin).

If the problem persists, share the output of flutter doctor for deeper troubleshooting and upvote if this was helpful.