Add a destination to the PATH in Windows

When installing a command-line tool, such as Node.js, Git, or Python, it often happens that you're asked to "add the path to the PATH."

But what does this actually mean? And why does it matter?

What is the PATH?

The PATH is an environment variable in Windows.

It contains a list of locations (or "paths") that the system will scan through when you type a command in the terminal.

When you type node or git in the terminal, Windows looks in each folder listed in your PATH to find the corresponding program.

If the folder where your program is installed is not in the PATH, Windows won't know where to look, and you'll see an error like this:

'node' n’est pas reconnu en tant que commande interne ou externe

Why modify the PATH?

Adding a folder to the PATH allows you to run a program from any folder, without having to type its full path.

Example: If Node.js is installed in C:\Program Files\nodejs, you can add it to your PATH to simply write:

node app.js

instead of:

"C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe" app.js

How to add a folder to the PATH

Open the system settings

Open Settings > System > Advanced system settings…

Or press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl and press Enter

Then click on Advanced → Environment Variables.

Modify the PATH variable

In the "System variables" section, select the variable named Path, then click Edit.

Add your new path

Click New, and paste the full path of the folder where your executable is located

(e.g., C:\Program Files\nodejs).

Confirm and restart your terminal

Close all windows by clicking OK. Open your terminal again, then test your command (node -v for example).

Congratulations, you did it!

Note that sometimes you may need to restart your machine for the change to take effect everywhere on the system…