How do you migrate your existing Flutter mobile app to Flutter web?

1 Check the compatibility

Before you start the migration process, you need to check if your Flutter mobile app is compatible with the web platform. Some features and plugins may not work well or at all on the web, such as camera, file system, or native integrations. You can use the flutter doctor command to see if there are any issues with your web setup. You can also use the webdev compatibility tool to scan your project and identify any potential problems.

2 Update the dependencies

The next step is to update the dependencies in your pubspec.yaml file to support the web platform. You need to add the flutter_web_plugins package to enable web-specific functionality, such as routing, keyboard events, and asset bundling. You also need to update any other packages that you use in your app to their latest versions or their web-compatible alternatives. You can use the pub outdated command to see which packages need to be updated.

3 Configure the web settings

After updating the dependencies, you need to configure the web settings for your app. You can do this by creating a web folder in your project root and adding a web/index.html file. This file is the entry point for your web app and it contains the HTML elements and scripts that load your app. You can customize this file to change the title, favicon, meta tags, and other web-specific attributes of your app. You can also add a web/manifest.json file to define the web app manifest, which controls how your app appears on the home screen, splash screen, and browser.

4 Test and debug the app

Now that you have configured the web settings, you can test and debug your app on the web browser. You can use the flutter run -d chrome command to launch your app on Chrome, or use any other supported browser. You can also use the flutter devices command to see the available web devices. You can use the Chrome DevTools or the Dart DevTools to inspect and debug your app, such as checking the network requests, performance, layout, and errors.

5 Build and deploy the app

The final step is to build and deploy your app to the web server. You can use the flutter build web command to generate the web files in the build/web folder. These files include the HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and assets that make up your web app. You can then upload these files to any web hosting service or platform that supports static web hosting, such as Firebase Hosting, GitHub Pages, or Netlify. You can also use the flutter pub global run webdev serve command to run a local web server for testing purposes.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?