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Set environment variables

Environment variables are a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer.

They are part of the operating environment in which a process runs. For example, a running process can query the value of the TEMP environment variable to discover a suitable location to store temporary files, or the HOME or USERPROFILE variable to find the directory structure owned by the user running the process.

macOS

  1. Find out if you're using Bash or ZSH by running the command echo $SHELL in your Terminal.

  2. Depending on if you're using Bash or ZSH check if ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc exists by running open ~/.bashrc. Skip step 3 if it opens.

  3. Create the file with touch ~/.bashrc or touch ~/.zshrc if it doesn't already exist. Then open it with open ~/.bashrc or open ~/.zshrc.

  4. Add an environment variable using the following syntax export FOO='bar' at the end of the opened file. This will add an environment variable named FOO with the value of bar.

  5. Now just restart your terminal or reload the profile with source ~/.bashrc or source ~/.zshrc.

The tilde character ~ means your home folder and translates into /Users/yourusername.

Linux

  1. Find out if you're using Bash or ZSH by running the command echo $SHELL in your Terminal.

  2. Depending on if you're using Bash or ZSH check if ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc exists by running xdg-open ~/.bashrc or xdg-open ~/.zshrc. Skip step 3 if it opens.

  3. Create the file with touch ~/.bashrc or touch ~/.zshrc if it doesn't already exist. Then open it with xdg-open ~/.bashrc or xdg-open ~/.zshrc.

  4. Add an environment variable using the following syntax export FOO='bar' at the end of the opened file. This will add an environment variable named FOO with the value of bar.

  5. Now just restart your terminal or reload the profile with source ~/.bashrc or source ~/.zshrc.

The tilde character ~ means your home folder and translates into /home/yourusername.

Windows

Windows 7 and 8

  1. Open cmd.exe

  2. Type setx FOO bar. This will add an environment variable named FOO with the value of bar.

Alternative (without command line and for older Windows)

  1. Right-click on the Computer icon on your desktop or start-menu and choose the Properties menu item.

  2. In the new System window click on Advanced system settings.

  3. In the new System Properties window click the Advanced tab and then the Environment Variables... button.

To avoid having to go through this arcane navigation, you can also create a desktop shortcut with target command of rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables. (Or just enter this command in the Windows Run box Win R.)

  1. Click the first New... button.

  2. In the New User Variable box you can add an environment variable name and value.

Use one of these small, free tools

  1. NVM# - For Windows 10 only, but supports the new environment variable extensions for Windows 10.

  2. Path-Manager - Not limited to only setting PATH environment variable, but any environment variable. Includes validation of path names.

  3. Rapid Environment Editor (RapidEE) - Comprehensive editor that includes display of read-only variables set by Windows.

  4. Windows Environment Variables Editor - Nice, simple GUI layout reminiscent of Microsoft's GUI standards. Includes support for backing up and restoring environment variable "sets".

  5. Windows Environment Variables Manager (EnvMan) - Nice separation of user and system environment variables and support for rearranging sequence of paths in PATH environment variable.