How to Change the PATH Environment Variable on Windows

PDF download Download Article
A simple guide to adding a directory to the Windows 10/11 path variable
PDF download Download Article

The PATH environment variable specifies in which directories the Windows command line looks for executable binaries. The process for changing it is not obvious, but it's not too hard. Read on to learn how to change PATH.

Things You Should Know

  • Adding a directory to your path makes it possible to run programs from the command line without typing the full path.
  • To access your path settings, open Settings, type "path," then click "Edit the System Environment Details."
  • While adding directories to the path is simple, don't remove any existing path directories.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Windows 7–11

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open the "settings" application. This can be done by pressing the Windows key and clicking the gear icon in the "Start" menu. You can also search "settings" in Cortana or in the "Start" menu.
  2. 2
    Search "path" in the settings menu.
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    Select Edit the System Environment Details . This option should be below Show Full Path in Title Bar and above Edit the Environment Details for your Account . A menu titled "System Properties" should pop up.
  4. 4
    Click Environment Variables . This should be on the right-hand side of the menu below the Startup and Recovery section.
  5. 5
    Select Path . You should not have to scroll down to find this option. It is in between two options titled OS and PATHEXT .
  6. 6
    Click Edit , and proceed to edit the PATH environment variable.

    Warning! Unless you want to potentially destroy your PC's system, DO NOT edit this variable unless you know what you're doing.

  7. 7
    Select OK once you're done editing. This will save any changes you may have made.
    8. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Windows XP

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Create a shortcut to "My Computer". Click on "Start", mouse over "My Computer", right-click on it, and select "Show on Desktop".
  2. 2
    Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties . A window will open.
  3. 3
    Switch to the Advanced tab. In that tab, click on Environment Variables . Another window will open.
  4. 4
    Scroll down until you see "Path". Select it and click on Edit . A third window will open.
  5. 5
    Edit the PATH environment variable. Unless you really know what you're doing, don't remove what's already there, only append to it. For example, you could add another directory by appending: ;C:\path\to\directory , with "\path\to\directory" being the actual path to the directory.
  6. 6
    Click on OK . When the window closes, there should be a short delay because the environment variable is being updated. After that, you can press OK to close the other two windows, too.
  7. 7
    Check that the environment variable changed. Open the command line by pressing ⊞ Win + R , entering cmd , and pressing ↵ Enter . Type: echo %PATH% . The output should be your updated PATH environment variable.
    8. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • Changing the PATH environment variable wrongly can cause your system to stop working correctly. You should have a basic understanding of what you're doing before changing PATH.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Take a Screenshot on a Windows PC: 8 Simple Tricks
      How to
      Check Your Windows Version
      How to
      Find Your Windows Product Key
      Easily Download and Install FFmpeg on a Windows PC
      5 Quick Ways to Change Your Desktop Wallpaper on Windows
      How to
      Check Your Mouse DPI on Windows & Mac
      How to
      Start Windows in Safe Mode: 6 Easy Options
      4 Easy Ways to Access the Boot Options Menu in Windows
      How to
      Disable BitLocker Encryption in Windows 10 and 11
      How to
      Access the BIOS on Any PC: Guide + Troubleshooting
      3 Easy Ways to Move a Full Screen Game to Another Monitor
      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      2 Ways to Alter the Size of Your Windows Desktop Taskbar
      Installing Windows 10 or 11 on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 100,857 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement