Flutter is an open-source UI toolkit for mobile developers, providing a fast way to build high-quality natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop. Like any other software framework, Flutter has its versions, which can be updated or downgraded based on the project requirements.
Why Downgrade Flutter?
There could be various reasons why you might want to downgrade your Flutter SDK. Maybe a specific feature is not working as expected in the latest version and is available in an older version. Or perhaps, a particular plugin or package you are using has compatibility issues with the newer versions of Flutter.
How to Downgrade Flutter?
Fortunately, downgrading Flutter is relatively straightforward. Since Flutter uses Git for versioning, changing the Flutter version boils down to simply switching between different branches. There are two ways to do this:
Method 1: Using Branches (stable/dev/beta/master)
You can switch between predefined branches like stable, dev, beta, or master using the following command:
flutter channel <branch>
Replace <branch> with the desired branch name. For example:
flutter channel stable
This will switch your Flutter version to the stable branch.
Method 2: Using Specific Commit ID or Version Number
You can also specify a specific commit ID from Git using the following command:
flutter downgrade <version>
Replace <version> with the desired version number. For example:
flutter downgrade v1.2.1
This will switch your Flutter version to the specified commit ID or version number.
Listing Available Versions
To see a list of available versions, use the following command:
flutter version
This command lists all the available branches and specific version numbers that you can switch to.
Undoing Downgrade and Reverting Back to Stable
If you want to undo the downgrade and revert back to the stable branch, use the following commands:
flutter channel stable flutter upgrade
The first command switches you back to the stable branch, and the second command upgrades your Flutter version within that branch.
Conclusion
Downgrading your Flutter SDK is a straightforward process that involves switching between different branches or specifying a specific commit ID or version number. With these steps, you can easily downgrade your Flutter version to meet the requirements of your project. Remember to list available versions and choose wisely before making any changes.
