How do I push an existing local project to GitHub?

Run git init in the project folder, then git add . and git commit -m "Initial commit" . Create an empty repository on GitHub, connect it with git remote add origin https://<token>@github.com/<username>/<repo>.git , and push with git push -u origin master .

Why use a personal access token instead of a GitHub password?

GitHub removed support for account-password authentication over HTTPS in August 2021. A personal access token (PAT) acts as a scoped, revocable password for command-line and API access, so you authenticate with the token instead of your account password.

How do I fix ''error: remote origin already exists''?

The remote named origin is already set. Update its URL with git remote set-url origin <new-url> , or remove it first with git remote remove origin and then re-add it with git remote add origin <url> .

Should I commit my .venv folder to GitHub?

No. Add .venv/ to a .gitignore file so the virtual environment is excluded. If it was already committed, untrack it with git rm -r --cached .venv and commit the change.

Storing Your Local Project to GitHub

12 Feb 2025 (updated: 24 Aug 2026) / 13 minutes to read

Elena Daehnhardt

Pushing a Local Project to GitHub: Overview

Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in your files, and GitHub is a hosting service for Git repositories. If you have a Python or any coding/writing project on your local machine and want to share it on GitHub, you can do so using Git and a personal access token (a scoped, revocable string that replaces your account password for command-line access). Let’s create a local Git repository, set up a GitHub repository, and push your code to GitHub!

Prerequisites: GitHub Account and Git Installation

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Steps to Do on GitHub: Token and Repository

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Steps to Do Locally: git init, commit, and push

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Common Git Push Errors and Fixes

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Verify Your Repository

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Conclusion

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References

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Storing Your Local Project to GitHub

📚 This post is part of the "Git Survival Guide" series

Pushing a Local Project to GitHub: Overview

Prerequisites: GitHub Account and Git Installation

Steps to Do on GitHub: Token and Repository

Steps to Do Locally: git init, commit, and push

Common Git Push Errors and Fixes

Verify Your Repository

Conclusion

References

References

Citation

Storing Your Local Project to GitHub

📚 This post is part of the "Git Survival Guide" series

Pushing a Local Project to GitHub: Overview

Prerequisites: GitHub Account and Git Installation

Steps to Do on GitHub: Token and Repository

Steps to Do Locally: git init, commit, and push

Common Git Push Errors and Fixes

Verify Your Repository

Conclusion

References

You're in

References

Citation