How to Alter Path in Windows 10
In Windows 10, altering the system path is a crucial task for users who frequently work with command-line tools or need to access certain programs and scripts easily. The system path, also known as the PATH environment variable, is a list of directories where the operating system looks for executable files when a user types a command in the command prompt or runs a program from the Run dialog. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to alter the path in Windows 10.
Step 1: Open System Properties
To begin, you need to access the System Properties window. There are a couple of ways to do this:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type `sysdm.cpl` in the text field, and press Enter.
2. Right-click on the Start button and select “System” from the menu.
Step 2: Navigate to Advanced System Settings
In the System Properties window, click on the “Advanced system settings” link on the left-hand side. This will open the System Properties dialog box.
Step 3: Open the Environment Variables
In the System Properties dialog box, click on the “Environment Variables” button under the “Advanced” tab. This will open the Environment Variables window.
Step 4: Edit the PATH Variable
In the Environment Variables window, you will see two sections: “User variables for [Your Username]” and “System variables.” To alter the system path, you need to edit the “System variables” section.
Find the “Path” variable in the list and select it. Then, click on the “Edit” button.
Step 5: Add or Remove Directories
In the Edit Environment Variable window, you will see the current value of the PATH variable. To add a new directory to the path, type the directory path in the “Variable value” field, followed by a semicolon (;) and then press Enter.
For example, if you want to add the “C:\Program Files\Git\bin” directory to the path, you would type:
“`
C:\Program Files\Git\bin;
“`
If you want to remove a directory from the path, simply delete the corresponding entry from the “Variable value” field.
Step 6: Save and Apply Changes
After making the necessary changes, click “OK” to save the new PATH variable. You will be prompted to confirm the changes in the System Properties dialog box. Click “OK” again to close the dialog boxes and apply the changes.
Step 7: Verify the Changes
To verify that the changes have been applied successfully, open a new command prompt window or Run dialog. Type `echo %PATH%` and press Enter. You should see the updated path with the new directories added or removed.
By following these steps, you can easily alter the path in Windows 10 and improve your command-line experience.
