Using Git With Visual Studio 2013: Legacy Dev Workflow Made Simple

Using Git with Visual Studio 2013 still gives me that old-school thrill—like helping Dad wire up a vintage IBM monitor back in Pittsburgh. ✨ The integration might seem outdated, but with the right extensions, you’ll get version control. without leaving the familiar IDE.

I’ve set this up on half a dozen legacy projects, and the workflow becomes surprisingly smooth once you know the quirks.

You’ll need Git for Windows installed first (the full version, not just the command-line tools), plus the free Git Extensions plugin for Visual Studio 2013. The setup takes about 15 minutes—longer if you hit credential prompts, but worth it to avoid the command line.

I’ve mapped out every step, from linking your repo to resolving those pesky authentication popups that trip up beginners.

Once configured, you’ll commit changes directly from the Solution Explorer, push with a single click, and even resolve merge conflicts in the IDE’s diff tool. No more context-switching between windows—just pure, Visual Studio-native Git.

The biggest hurdle? Getting past the initial plugin installation, but I’ll walk you through exactly where to click to avoid the common pitfalls.

This workflow saved me hours on a client project last year when we needed to track changes across a team using only VS 2013. The key is patience with the legacy integration—modern Git tools feel snappier, but this setup delivers reliability for older codebases.

Let’s get you up and running without the usual headaches.

What you need

Step-by-Step instructions for integrating Git in Visual Studio 2013

Here's the straightforward process I follow to get Git working smoothly with VS 2013.

First, download and install the latest Git for Windows from git-scm.com. During installation, select the option to integrate Git with Visual Studio 2013—this ensures the IDE recognizes Git commands. I always choose the Use Git from the Windows Command Prompt option too, so I can use Git Bash if needed later.

After installation completes, launch Visual Studio 2013 and go to Tools > Options. Navigate to Source Control > Plug-in Selection and select Git from the dropdown. This tells VS 2013 to use Git instead of its built-in TFS system. Click OK to save—you'll see a confirmation that Git is now the active source control provider.

Open your Visual Studio 2013 solution and ensure all files are saved. In the Solution Explorer, right-click the solution file (the .sln file) and select Add Solution to Source Control. Choose Git when prompted. This creates a hidden .git folder in your solution directory.

Next, verify the repository was created by opening Git Changes (View > Other Windows > Git Changes). You should see all your project files listed under Unstaged Changes. If you don't see files, click the Refresh button or check that Show All Files is enabled in Solution Explorer.

In the Git Changes window, select all files you want to include in the initial commit. Type a descriptive commit message in the Commit Message box—something like "Initial project setup" works well. Click Commit All to stage and commit your changes.

Now, connect to your remote repository. Click the Push button in the Git Changes window. If you haven't set up a remote yet, you'll need to configure it first by clicking Settings in the same window. Enter your remote repository URL (e.g., from GitHub or Bitbucket) and authenticate. After pushing, verify success by checking the Git Outgoing Commits window—it should show your commit as pushed.

To avoid conflicts later, set your Git username and email in VS 2013. Go to Tools > Options > Source Control > Git Global Settings and enter your details. These match the credentials you use for your remote repository (e.g., GitHub).

I also recommend enabling auto-CRLF handling by adding this to your Git config (via Git Bash or Git GUI): git config --global core.autocrlf true. This prevents line-ending issues when working across Windows and Linux systems. Test it by committing a file with both Windows and Unix line endings to ensure consistency.

Create a new file in your project, make a change, and save it. In Git Changes, verify the file appears under Unstaged Changes. Stage it, commit with a message, and push to your remote. If you encounter errors, check the Output window (View > Output > Git) for details—common issues include authentication failures or permission problems.

If you see "The remote end hung up unexpectedly", it usually means your SSH key isn't set up correctly. Generate a new SSH key (via Git Bash: ssh-keygen -t ed25519) and add it to your Git hosting service's account settings. For HTTPS remotes, ensure your credentials are cached or use a credential manager like Git Credential Manager.

Tips & tricks for integrating Git in Visual Studio 2013

Here's what I've learned after helping developers transition from TFS to Git in VS 2013—these tricks make the process smoother than you'd expect.

Visual Studio Integration Tip: After installing Git for Windows, I always verify the integration by creating a new test file in VS 2013 and checking if Git Changes window updates automatically. This confirms the plugin is working before you commit critical project files. The Use Git from Windows Command Prompt option during installation is worth keeping—it gives you flexibility to use Git Bash when you need more advanced commands than VS provides.

Repository Verification: In Step 2, when you initialize your repository, don't forget to enable Show All Files in Solution Explorer (right-click > Show All Files). This reveals hidden files like .user and .suo that Visual Studio generates. You can exclude these from Git by right-clicking in Git Changes and selecting Exclude from Git—this keeps your repository clean without losing important project settings.

Commit Message Practice: I've seen developers struggle with commit messages, so here's my trick: keep them under 50 characters for the first line, and use the second line for details. This matches GitHub's formatting and makes your commit history scannable. For your first commit, something like "Initial project setup: VS 2013 solution with core modules" works perfectly—it tells the story while being concise.

Troubleshooting Tip: When you encounter authentication issues in Step 5, don't panic—most problems stem from cached credentials. Try clearing your Git credential cache by running git credential-manager reject in Git Bash, then re-authenticating. For SSH issues, the ssh-keygen -t ed25519 command is your friend, but remember to add the public key (~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub) to your Git hosting service's account settings.

Frequently asked questions

Got questions? Here are some of the most common concerns developers face when integrating Git with Visual Studio 2013—plus quick fixes and pro tips to keep your workflow smooth.

git filter-branch --force --index-filter \
  'git rm --cached --ignore-unmatch sensitive_file.txt' \
  --prune-empty --tag-name-filter cat -- --all

Wrapping up and next steps

Mastering Git with Visual Studio 2013 bridges the gap between legacy workflows and modern version control—no complex setup required! 🚀 You’ve now learned how to initialize repositories, commit changes, resolve conflicts, and collaborate seamlessly, all while keeping your projects safe.

Whether you’re maintaining old codebases or just curious about Git’s power, you’re now equipped to work smarter.

Ready for more? Dive deeper by exploring advanced Git features like branching strategies or integrating with Azure DevOps—your next steps await! 💡