How to Export a Lovable Project to GitHub
A step-by-step export guide for Lovable users who want clean source control on GitHub.
Before You Start
- Confirm your Lovable project builds and runs correctly.
- Decide which GitHub account or organisation will own the repository.
- You will need admin permissions on the target GitHub org to install the Lovable app.
Important: You cannot change the linked GitHub account after connecting. Make sure you are using the correct account before you begin.
Export Steps
Navigate to Settings → Connectors → GitHub and click Connect GitHub. Sign into your GitHub account and authorise lovable.dev to verify your identity.
Return to Settings → Connectors → GitHub and click Connect project. Select Add organizations, choose your personal account or org, decide whether to grant access to all repos or specific ones, then click Install & Authorize.
From Settings → Connectors → GitHub, click Connect project again (or use the GitHub icon in the top-right of your project). Choose your target GitHub account or org and confirm with Transfer anyway. A new repository is created and automatic sync begins on the main branch.
Open the new repository on GitHub. Confirm that files are present, the default branch is main, and no secrets or API keys are committed.
Post-Export Checklist
- Clone the repo locally and verify the project builds outside Lovable.
- Add or update
.gitignoreto exclude build artefacts and environment files. - Check that auto-sync is working: make a small change in Lovable and confirm it appears as a commit on GitHub.
If Export Fails
- GitHub app not installed: Make sure you completed Stage 2 — the Lovable GitHub app must be installed on the target account/org.
- Permission denied: You need admin access on the GitHub org to install apps. Ask an org admin to approve the installation.
- Build or deploy errors: See Fix common Lovable errors for troubleshooting steps.
Next Step
Export is done. If you want to move from prototype to production delivery with structured planning and AI implementation: See how Feature1 works.
Verification
Verified on April 4, 2026. Source: Lovable Docs (Git Integration). If the flow changes, prefer current Lovable docs over this snapshot.
Continue in Claude Code, Cursor, or any coding agent
Once the project is on GitHub, you are no longer tied to Lovable. Clone the repository to your machine and run your coding agent — Claude Code, Cursor, Codex — directly in the project folder. The agent now works on your real codebase with full git history, instead of inside the builder's sandbox. And when you want planned features instead of one-off prompts, Feature1 connects your repo so agents implement against approved acceptance criteria.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the GitHub account linked to Lovable later?
No. You cannot change the linked GitHub account after connecting. Decide which GitHub account or organisation will own the repository before you start, and make sure you are using that account. To install the Lovable app on an organisation, you also need admin permissions on that org.
Does Lovable keep syncing with GitHub after the export?
Yes. When you connect the project, Lovable creates a new repository and automatic sync begins on the main branch. To check that it works, make a small change in Lovable and confirm it appears as a commit on GitHub. Then clone the repo and check the project builds outside Lovable.
What if the Lovable export fails?
Check two things first. The Lovable GitHub app must be installed on the target account or org, which is the second step above. And you need admin access on the GitHub org to install apps. If you do not have it, ask an org admin to approve the installation. For build or deploy errors, see the guide to common Lovable errors.
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