Setting Up Android Studio for Flutter

Android Studio is a complete development environment that can be used to develop, run, debug,
and test Flutter applications. For Android development with Flutter, Android Studio provides
important Android development tools such as the Android SDK, SDK Manager, Android Emulator,
and other platform components.

Installing Android Studio alone is not enough for Flutter development. You must also have the
Flutter SDK installed and its bin directory available in your PATH. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

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1. What is Android Studio?

Android Studio is Google's official IDE for Android application development. It provides tools
for writing code, managing Android SDK components, creating virtual Android devices, debugging
applications, and building Android applications.

When used with Flutter, Android Studio can also provide an IDE environment for Dart and Flutter
development through the Flutter and Dart plugins. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Android Studio Provides

• Android SDK management


• Android SDK Platform Tools


• Android SDK Build Tools


• Android Emulator


• Android Virtual Device Manager


• Debugger


• Logcat


• Gradle build tools integration


• Flutter and Dart plugin support


• Android project management

---

2. Why Do We Need Android Studio for Flutter?

Flutter itself is a cross-platform framework, but Android development requires Android-specific
tooling. Android Studio provides many of the tools required to build and test Flutter
applications for Android.

Main Reasons

• To install and manage the Android SDK.


• To create Android Virtual Devices.


• To run the Android Emulator.


• To manage Android SDK platforms and tools.


• To install Android build components.


• To debug Android applications.


• To inspect Android logs.


• To configure Android development for Flutter.


• To edit Android-specific files inside a Flutter project.

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3. Flutter SDK vs Android Studio

Flutter SDK and Android Studio are different components of the development environment.

Flutter SDK	Android Studio
Provides Flutter framework.	Provides Android development environment.
Includes Dart SDK.	Provides Android SDK management.
Provides Flutter CLI.	Provides Android Emulator.
Used to create Flutter projects.	Used to manage Android tooling.
Provides Flutter development tools.	Provides IDE and Android debugging tools.

A typical Flutter Android development environment therefore contains both Flutter SDK and the
Android development tools. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

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4. Prerequisites

Before setting up Android Studio for Flutter, make sure Flutter itself has been installed.
You should also have sufficient disk space, RAM, and processor resources for Android Studio
and, if required, the Android Emulator.

Basic Requirements

• Flutter SDK installed.


• Flutter SDK bin directory added to PATH.


• Internet connection.


• Supported operating system.


• Enough disk space for Android Studio, SDK components, and emulator images.


• Virtualization support if using the Android Emulator.

Current Android Studio requirements vary by operating system and whether you use the Emulator.
For example, current Android documentation lists higher RAM and storage requirements when
running Android Studio together with an emulator. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

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5. Download Android Studio

Download Android Studio from the official Android Developers website.

target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
Download Android Studio

Always use the official Android Developers website to download Android Studio so that you get
an authentic and supported installer.

---

6. Install Android Studio on Windows

On Windows, the recommended Android Studio installer is provided as an executable installer.

Step 1: Download the Installer

Download the Windows installer from the Android Studio website.

Step 2: Run the Installer

Double-click the downloaded .exe file.

Step 3: Select Components

The installation wizard may provide options for components such as Android Studio and Android
Virtual Device support.

Select the components required for your development environment and continue with the installation.

Step 4: Choose Installation Location

Select an appropriate installation directory.

Step 5: Complete Installation

Click the installation button and wait until Android Studio is installed.

Android's current installation documentation recommends running the downloaded Windows
.exe installer and then completing the Setup Wizard, including recommended SDK
packages. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

---

7. Install Android Studio on macOS

For macOS, download the appropriate Android Studio DMG for your Mac.

Steps

1. Download the Android Studio DMG.


2. Open the downloaded DMG file.


3. Drag Android Studio into the Applications folder.


4. Launch Android Studio.


5. Choose whether to import previous settings.


6. Complete the Android Studio Setup Wizard.


7. Allow the wizard to download the required Android SDK components.

Android's current documentation provides separate downloads for Intel-based and Apple Silicon
Macs. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

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8. Install Android Studio on Linux

On Linux, download the appropriate Android Studio archive and extract it into a suitable
application directory.

Basic Steps

1. Download the Linux Android Studio package.


2. Extract the downloaded archive.


3. Open the android-studio/bin/ directory.


4. Launch Android Studio.


5. Complete the Setup Wizard.


6. Install the required Android SDK components.

Some Linux distributions also require additional libraries before Android Studio can run
correctly. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

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9. First Launch of Android Studio

After installing Android Studio, launch it for the first time.

The first launch may display a setup wizard that helps configure Android Studio and download
required SDK components.

Typical Setup Process

1. Launch Android Studio.


2. Choose whether to import previous settings.


3. Review the setup options.


4. Choose the installation type if prompted.


5. Review SDK components.


6. Accept the required licenses.


7. Allow Android Studio to download required components.


8. Finish the setup.

The Android Studio Setup Wizard is designed to configure required components such as the
Android SDK. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

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10. Install Flutter Plugin in Android Studio

To develop Flutter applications directly in Android Studio, install the Flutter plugin.
The Flutter plugin provides Flutter-specific project creation, editing, debugging, and
development functionality.

Steps

1. Open Android Studio.


2. Go to File > Settings on Windows/Linux.


3. On macOS, open Android Studio > Settings.


4. Select Plugins.


5. Open the Marketplace tab.


6. Search for Flutter.


7. Select the Flutter plugin.


8. Click Install.


9. Accept the prompt to install required Dart support if displayed.


10. Restart Android Studio.

Flutter's documentation currently recommends installing the Flutter plugin from the Android
Studio Plugins Marketplace. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

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11. Flutter Plugin and Dart Plugin

Flutter development uses both Flutter and Dart support.

Plugin	Purpose
Flutter	Provides Flutter project and development support.
Dart	Provides Dart language support.

When installing the Flutter plugin, Android Studio may also prompt you to install or enable
the Dart plugin.

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12. Configure Flutter SDK Path

Android Studio needs to know where your Flutter SDK is located.

For example, if Flutter was extracted to:

C:\Users\Student\develop\flutter

Then the Flutter SDK path should point to:

C:\Users\Student\develop\flutter

Do not select the bin directory as the Flutter SDK root when Android Studio asks
for the Flutter SDK location. Select the main flutter directory.

Example

Correct:
C:\Users\Student\develop\flutter

Not the SDK root:
C:\Users\Student\develop\flutter\bin

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13. Open Flutter Project in Android Studio

Once the Flutter plugin and SDK are configured, you can open an existing Flutter project.

Method 1: Open Existing Project

1. Launch Android Studio.


2. Click Open.


3. Navigate to your Flutter project.


4. Select the project folder.


5. Click Open.

Method 2: Open from File Menu

File > Open

Select the root folder of the Flutter project.

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14. Create a New Flutter Project in Android Studio

Android Studio allows you to create a Flutter project directly from the IDE once Flutter
support has been installed.

Steps

1. Open Android Studio.


2. Click New Flutter Project from the Welcome screen.


3. If a project is already open, use File > New > New Flutter Project.


4. Select Flutter as the project type.


5. Verify the Flutter SDK path.


6. Click Next.


7. Enter the project name.


8. Choose the project location.


9. Configure other project details if required.


10. Click Finish.

These steps are also documented in Flutter's current Android Studio project-creation guide.
:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

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15. Flutter Project Name Rules

Flutter project names should follow Dart package naming conventions.

Good Examples

my_app
student_management
shopping_app
flutter_demo

Avoid

My App
my-app
123app

Using lowercase names with underscores is the common convention for Flutter project names.

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16. Android SDK Manager

The SDK Manager is one of the most important Android Studio tools for Flutter Android
development.

Open SDK Manager

From Android Studio, open:

Tools > SDK Manager

Depending on the Android Studio screen, you can also access SDK Manager from the welcome
screen through the additional actions/options menu. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

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17. Android SDK Location

The SDK Manager displays the location where Android SDK components are installed.

For example, a Windows installation might use a path similar to:

C:\Users\Student\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk

The exact SDK location can differ depending on the operating system and installation choices.

Why is Android SDK Location Important?

• Flutter needs access to Android SDK tools for Android builds.


• Android Studio uses the SDK for Android development.


• Emulators use SDK system images.


• Build tools are installed through the SDK Manager.

---

18. SDK Platforms

The SDK Platforms tab allows you to manage Android platform versions installed
on your computer.

Typical Process

1. Open SDK Manager.


2. Open the SDK Platforms tab.


3. Select the Android platform required by your project.


4. Apply the changes.


5. Allow Android Studio to download the selected components.

The exact Android API level required can depend on your Flutter project and its dependencies.

---

19. SDK Tools

The SDK Tools tab contains Android development utilities.

Common Components

• Android SDK Build-Tools


• Android SDK Platform-Tools


• Android SDK Command-line Tools


• Android Emulator


• Android SDK tools required by your project

Additional components such as NDK and CMake may be required by particular projects or plugins.
Android Studio provides these through SDK Manager when needed. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

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20. Android SDK Platform-Tools

Android SDK Platform-Tools include utilities used to communicate with Android devices.
One of the most important tools is ADB, or Android Debug Bridge.

ADB is used for communication between your development computer and Android devices.

Example

adb devices

The exact output depends on whether an emulator or physical Android device is connected.

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21. Configure Android Emulator

Android Emulator allows you to run Android applications without using a physical Android
device. It is included with Android Studio. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Open Device Manager

In Android Studio, open the device management interface and create an Android Virtual Device
(AVD).

Basic Steps

1. Open Android Studio.


2. Open Device Manager.


3. Click Create Device.


4. Select a hardware device profile.


5. Click Next.


6. Select an Android system image.


7. Download the system image if necessary.


8. Click Next.


9. Review the AVD configuration.


10. Click Finish.

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22. Start Android Emulator

After creating an AVD, start the emulator from Device Manager.

1. Open Device Manager.


2. Find your virtual device.


3. Click the start/play button.


4. Wait for Android to boot.


5. Keep the emulator running.


6. Run your Flutter application.

You can then check whether Flutter detects the emulator:

flutter devices

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23. Check Available Flutter Devices

Use the following command:

flutter devices

This command lists devices that Flutter can use as application targets.

Example

flutter devices

2 connected devices:
Android Emulator
Chrome

The actual output will depend on the devices and platforms configured on your computer.

---

24. Connect a Physical Android Device

Instead of an emulator, you can run your Flutter application on a physical Android smartphone.

Step 1: Enable Developer Options

Open the phone's Settings and enable Developer Options.

Step 2: Enable USB Debugging

Inside Developer Options, enable USB Debugging.

Step 3: Connect the Phone

Connect your Android device to the computer using a USB cable.

Step 4: Authorize the Computer

If the phone displays a USB debugging authorization prompt, approve the computer.

Step 5: Verify the Device

flutter devices

Flutter's Android setup documentation also recommends enabling Developer Options and USB
debugging, connecting the device, and verifying it with flutter devices.
:contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

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25. Accept Android SDK Licenses

After configuring Android SDK components, Flutter may report that Android SDK licenses have
not been accepted.

Open a terminal and run:

flutter doctor --android-licenses

Read each license and accept the required licenses according to your development setup.

After completing the process, run:

flutter doctor

Flutter's current Android setup documentation specifically recommends this command for reviewing
and accepting Android SDK licenses. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

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26. Run Flutter Doctor

The flutter doctor command checks your Flutter development environment.

flutter doctor

For detailed diagnostic information:

flutter doctor -v

What Flutter Doctor Checks

• Flutter SDK


• Android toolchain


• Android Studio


• Connected devices


• Available development tools


• Other configured target platforms

After making configuration changes, run flutter doctor again to verify the setup.
:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

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27. Example Flutter Doctor Output

Doctor summary:
[✓] Flutter
[✓] Android toolchain
[✓] Android Studio
[✓] Connected device
[✓] Network resources

The exact output will vary depending on your operating system and installed tools.

---

28. Run a Flutter Application from Android Studio

After Android Studio, Flutter, and the Android device/emulator are configured, you can run
a Flutter application.

Steps

1. Open your Flutter project in Android Studio.


2. Wait for the project to finish loading.


3. Start an Android Emulator or connect a physical device.


4. Select the target device from the device selector.


5. Open lib/main.dart.


6. Click the Run button.


7. Wait for the application to build.


8. The application will launch on the selected device.

---

29. Run Flutter Application from Terminal

You can also use the Android Studio terminal to run Flutter commands.

flutter run

To see available devices:

flutter devices

To select a specific device:

flutter run -d <device-id>

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30. Hot Reload in Android Studio

Flutter's hot reload allows developers to quickly see many code changes without restarting
the entire application.

Typical Workflow

1. Run the Flutter application.


2. Change Dart or widget code.


3. Save the file.


4. Use Hot Reload.


5. Observe the updated UI.

This creates a fast development cycle because many changes can be reflected without rebuilding
the entire application from scratch.

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31. Hot Restart vs Hot Reload

Hot Reload	Hot Restart
Quickly applies many code changes.	Restarts the running Flutter application.
Usually preserves application state.	Application state is reset.
Useful during UI development.	Useful when a full Dart application restart is required.

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32. Debugging Flutter Applications

Android Studio provides debugging tools that can be used while running Flutter applications.

Common Debugging Features

• Breakpoints


• Step over


• Step into


• Step out


• Variable inspection


• Debug console


• Log output


• Flutter Inspector

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33. Flutter Inspector

Flutter Inspector helps developers understand the widget tree and inspect Flutter UI elements.

It Can Help With

• Viewing widget hierarchy.


• Inspecting widget properties.


• Understanding layout structure.


• Identifying layout problems.


• Debugging UI structure.

Flutter's Android Studio integration provides tooling for editing, debugging, and inspecting
Flutter applications. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

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34. Common Android Studio Problems in Flutter

Problem 1: Flutter Plugin Not Found

If Android Studio does not provide Flutter project options, verify that the Flutter plugin
is installed.

Go to:

File > Settings > Plugins > Marketplace

Search for:

Flutter

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Problem 2: Flutter SDK Path Is Incorrect

If Android Studio cannot locate Flutter, check the Flutter SDK path.

Example:

C:\Users\Student\develop\flutter

The selected path should point to the Flutter SDK root.

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Problem 3: Android SDK Not Found

Open Android Studio's SDK Manager and verify that the Android SDK is installed.

Then run:

flutter doctor

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Problem 4: Android Emulator Is Slow

Emulator performance depends heavily on the computer's CPU, RAM, storage, GPU, and hardware
virtualization configuration.

Possible Improvements

• Close unnecessary applications.


• Use a suitable virtual device configuration.


• Use hardware virtualization where supported.


• Use an SSD when possible.


• Allocate appropriate system resources.


• Use a physical Android device for testing when appropriate.

Android's current documentation lists virtualization support as required for emulator use on
supported Windows and Linux configurations. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

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Problem 5: Device Not Detected

Try:

flutter devices

If the physical device is missing:

• Check USB connection.


• Enable USB Debugging.


• Accept the debugging authorization prompt.


• Check the device drivers on Windows when required.


• Restart the device if necessary.


• Run flutter doctor.

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Problem 6: Android Licenses Not Accepted

Run:

flutter doctor --android-licenses

Accept the required licenses and then run:

flutter doctor

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35. Useful Android Studio Shortcuts

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Settings	Ctrl + Alt + S	Cmd + ,
Search Everywhere	Double Shift	Double Shift
Run	Shift + F10	Control + R
Debug	Shift + F9	Control + D

Shortcut availability can vary with operating system and customized keymap settings.

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36. Recommended Flutter Android Development Workflow

1. Install Flutter SDK.


2. Add Flutter to PATH.


3. Install Android Studio.


4. Install Flutter plugin.


5. Configure Flutter SDK path.


6. Open SDK Manager.


7. Install required Android SDK components.


8. Accept Android SDK licenses.


9. Create an Android Emulator or connect a physical device.


10. Run flutter doctor.


11. Create or open a Flutter project.


12. Select an Android target device.


13. Run the application.


14. Use Hot Reload during development.


15. Debug and test the application.

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37. Complete Practical Example

Suppose the Flutter SDK is already installed at:

C:\Users\Student\develop\flutter

Step 1: Open Android Studio

Start Android Studio

Step 2: Install Flutter Plugin

File
  ↓
Settings
  ↓
Plugins
  ↓
Marketplace
  ↓
Flutter
  ↓
Install
  ↓
Restart

Step 3: Create Flutter Project

New Flutter Project
        ↓
Flutter
        ↓
Select Flutter SDK
        ↓
Next
        ↓
Project Name
        ↓
Finish

Step 4: Start Emulator

Device Manager
      ↓
Create Device
      ↓
Select Device
      ↓
Select System Image
      ↓
Finish
      ↓
Start Emulator

Step 5: Check Device

flutter devices

Step 6: Check Complete Environment

flutter doctor

Step 7: Run Application

flutter run

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38. Complete Setup Checklist

Task	Status
Flutter SDK installed	☐
Flutter added to PATH	☐
Android Studio installed	☐
Flutter plugin installed	☐
Dart support enabled	☐
Flutter SDK path configured	☐
Android SDK installed	☐
SDK Platform configured	☐
SDK Tools configured	☐
Android licenses accepted	☐
Android Emulator configured	☐
Physical device configured if required	☐
flutter doctor successful	☐
Flutter project created	☐
Application successfully executed	☐

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39. Important Commands

Command	Purpose
flutter --version	Check Flutter version.
dart --version	Check Dart version.
flutter doctor	Check Flutter and development environment.
flutter doctor -v	Display detailed diagnostic information.
flutter doctor --android-licenses	Review and accept Android SDK licenses.
flutter devices	List connected Flutter devices.
flutter emulators	List configured Flutter-compatible emulators.
flutter create my_app	Create a Flutter application.
flutter run	Run a Flutter application.
flutter clean	Remove generated build files.
flutter pub get	Download project dependencies.

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40. Important Interview Questions

Q1. What is Android Studio?

Android Studio is an IDE used for Android application development and provides tools such as
Android SDK management, debugging, project management, and Android Emulator support.

Q2. Is Android Studio enough to develop Flutter applications?

No. Flutter SDK must also be installed. The Flutter plugin for Android Studio does not replace
the Flutter SDK. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}

Q3. What is the Flutter plugin?

The Flutter plugin adds Flutter development functionality to Android Studio, including
Flutter project support and development tools.

Q4. What is SDK Manager?

SDK Manager is an Android Studio tool used to install and manage Android SDK platforms,
build tools, platform tools, emulator components, and other SDK packages.

Q5. What is Android Emulator?

Android Emulator is a virtual Android device that allows developers to run and test Android
applications without requiring a physical Android phone.

Q6. How do you check whether Flutter recognizes an Android device?

flutter devices

Q7. How do you check the Flutter Android setup?

flutter doctor

Q8. How do you accept Android SDK licenses?

flutter doctor --android-licenses

Q9. Where do you install the Flutter plugin?

The Flutter plugin can be installed from Android Studio's Plugins Marketplace:

File > Settings > Plugins > Marketplace > Flutter

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41. Key Points to Remember

• Android Studio is an important part of the Android development environment.


• Flutter SDK must be installed separately.


• Installing the Flutter plugin does not install the Flutter SDK.


• The Flutter SDK's bin directory should be available in PATH.


• Use SDK Manager to manage Android SDK components.


• Use Device Manager to create Android Virtual Devices.


• Use Android Emulator to test applications virtually.


• You can also test Flutter applications on physical Android devices.


• Use flutter doctor to diagnose configuration problems.


• Use flutter devices to verify available devices.


• Use flutter doctor --android-licenses to handle Android SDK licenses.


• Use the Flutter plugin for Android Studio Flutter development.


• Keep Android Studio and its relevant plugins/tools updated when required.

---

42. JustAcademy Flutter Training

If you want structured learning covering Flutter SDK installation, Android Studio setup,
Dart programming, widgets, layouts, navigation, APIs, state management, and practical
Flutter application development, you can explore the following training resource:

target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
JustAcademy Flutter Training Course

For a course demonstration or registration:

target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
Register for Flutter Course Demo

---

43. Conclusion

Setting up Android Studio for Flutter involves more than simply installing the IDE. A complete
Android development environment requires the Flutter SDK, Flutter plugin, Android SDK,
appropriate SDK tools, Android licenses, and a testing device such as an Android Emulator or
physical Android device.

The complete workflow can be summarized as:

Install Flutter SDK
        ↓
Install Android Studio
        ↓
Install Flutter Plugin
        ↓
Configure Flutter SDK Path
        ↓
Open SDK Manager
        ↓
Install Android SDK Components
        ↓
Accept Android Licenses
        ↓
Create Android Emulator / Connect Device
        ↓
Run flutter doctor
        ↓
Run flutter devices
        ↓
Create/Open Flutter Project
        ↓
Run Flutter Application
        ↓
Use Hot Reload & Debugging

Once these steps are completed successfully, Android Studio can be used as a complete
development environment for building and testing Flutter applications for Android.