Table of Contents
PATH is an environment variable that specifies a set of directories, separated with semicolons (;), where executable programs or scripts are located. In this post we will show you how to add a directory to Windows PATH.
Environment variable scopes
Before you are moving forward, you should know about the Scope. On Windows, environment variables can be defined in three scopes:
- Process (or session) scope: The Process scope contains the environment variables available in the current process, or PowerShell session. This list of variables is inherited from the parent process and is constructed from the variables in the Machine and User scopes. Closing the PowerShell window will revert the environment variables to its pre-determined state.
- User scope: User environment variables are specific only to the currently logged-in user.
- System (or Machine) scope: System environment variables are globally accessed by all users.
Set Environment Variable in Windows Using PowerShell
For example, we have a simple PowerShell script located at D:\scripts\resetwsl.ps1 that reset then reinstall an WSL instance automatically.
wsl --unregister alpine
wsl --import alpine 'D:\wsl\import\alpine' 'D:\wsl\export\alpine.tar'As you can see in the below output, to execute the reset script, we need to type the full path of the script or navigate to the script location.
#Output
PS C:\> D:\scripts\resetwsl.ps1
Unregistering.
The operation completed successfully.
Import in progress, this may take a few minutes.
The operation completed successfully.
PS C:\>
PS C:\> cd D:\scripts\
PS D:\scripts> .\resetwsl.ps1
Unregistering.
The operation completed successfully.
Import in progress, this may take a few minutes.
The operation completed successfully.To simplify the process, after opening a new PowerShell window, we want to type the name of the script only to run it instead of typing the full path or navigating to the script location like this:
PS C:\> resetwsl.ps1As you can see, PowerShell does not recognize the script because it only finds the scripts and executable files in the folders listed in the Path environment variables.
To achieve that goal, we need to add the home path (folder) of the scripts to the Path environment variables. In our case, we need to add D:\Scripts folder to the path environment variables.
Add a value to the Path environment variable (User scope)
1. In PowerShell we can get the list of directories in the PATH environment variable using the below command:
$Env:PATH -split ";"The output will show the value of the path environment variables. It is including the values in both user and system scopes.
# Output
C:\Windows\system32
C:\Windows
C:\Windows\System32\Wbem
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\
C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\
C:\Users\mpnadmin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
C:\Users\mpnadmin\AppData\Local\Programs\oh-my-posh\bin
C:\Users\mpnadmin\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\bin$Env:PATH >> 'C:\Env_Path.txt'
Get-Content 'C:\Env_Path.txt'
3. Now, to add a folder as a PATH value, use the below code snippet. For example, we will add the folder D:\scripts to the PATH environment variable. The code explanation:
- $dir: The directory that you want to add as a value in the Path environment variable.
- $regPath: The path of the Registry key stores environment variables.
- $currentStrings: The current strings of the path environment variable.
- $newStrings: Use the join operator to combine the current strings with the $dir.
- Remove-ItemProperty: Remove the Path value name of the HKCU:\Environment key.
- New-ItemProperty: Recreate the value name with the new string ($newStrings)
# Don't forget to change the directory to fit with yours
$dir = "D:\Scripts"
$regPath = "HKCU:\Environment"
$currentStrings = (Get-ItemProperty $regPath ).Path
$newStrings = -join($currentStrings,$dir,";")
Remove-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "Path" -Force
New-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -PropertyType 'ExpandString' -Name 'Path' -Value "$newStrings"As you can see, the D:\Scripts has been added as a value of the Path environment variable.
# Output - The Path value is truncated
Path : C:\Users\mpnadmin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;...;D:\Scripts;
PSPath : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
PSParentPath : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER
PSChildName : Environment
PSDrive : HKCU
PSProvider : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\RegistryTo verify it works, close the opening PowerShell windows then open a new one then check the path env again.
PS C:\> $env:PATH -split ';'
C:\Windows\system32
C:\Windows
C:\Windows\System32\Wbem
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\
C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\
C:\Users\mpnadmin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
C:\Users\mpnadmin\AppData\Local\Programs\oh-my-posh\bin
C:\Users\mpnadmin\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\bin
D:\ScriptsFrom now, after opening the PowerShell, we can run the script by enter its name (can use Tab for auto completion) instead of typing the full path of the script or navigating to its location.
Add a value to the Path environment variable (System scope)
Note: The previous code snippet will add the folder to the PATH environment variable in user scope. If you want to do it in system scope (all users). You can use the following code snippet:
# Don't forget to change the directory to fit with yours
$dir = "D:\Scripts"
$regPath = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment"
$currentStrings = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $regPath).Path
$newStrings = -join($currentStrings,$dir,";")
Remove-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "Path" -Force
New-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -PropertyType 'ExpandString' -Name 'Path' -Value "$newStrings"Why it seems complicated?
When using the PowerShell code snippet to add a folder as a value of the Path environment variables. You may wonder Why it looks complicated?
Most of the articles on the internet guide you to use the below simple command to add a directory to the Path environment variables. For example, add D:\Scripts to the env:
$Env:PATH += ";D:\Scripts"As you can see, it works as expected but it’s not persistent. Closing the PowerShell window and then re-open a new one will revert the environment variables to its pre-determined state because it’s process scope.
PS C:\> $Env:PATH += ";D:\Scripts"
PS C:\> $env:PATH -split ";"
C:\Windows\system32
C:\Windows
C:\Windows\System32\Wbem
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\
C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Programs\oh-my-posh\bin
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\bin
D:\ScriptsSome other guides on the internet tell you using the below command to persistent add a value to path environment variables in PowerShell:
setx PATH "$Env:PATH;D:\scripts"PS C:\> setx PATH "$Env:PATH;D:\scripts"
SUCCESS: Specified value was saved.Seem it works right?
The answer is YES BUT NOT RECOMMENED, when you get the values of the path environment variables. You will see, setx duplicates values from a scope to another one.
PS C:\> $Env:PATH -split ";"
C:\Windows\system32
C:\Windows
C:\Windows\System32\Wbem
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\
C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\
C:\Windows\system32
C:\Windows
C:\Windows\System32\Wbem
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\
C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Programs\oh-my-posh\bin
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\bin
D:\Scripts
D:\scriptsSet environment variables in your profile
A PowerShell profile is a script that runs when PowerShell starts. You can use the profile as a startup script to customize your environment. You can add commands, aliases, functions, variables, modules, PowerShell drives and more. They’re available in every session without having to import or re-create them.
If you’re writing the PowerShell script to run locally on your computer. You can use the PowerShell profile to add a directory to the path environment variables. Every time you start a PowerShell session the variables would be added automatically.
PowerShell supports several profiles for users and host programs. However, it doesn’t create the profiles for you. Let’s run the below command to create a profile for you if it does not exist.
if(!(Test-Path $profile)){New-Item -Type File -Path $profile -Force}On the PowerShell profile is created, open it using Notepad then add $Env:PATH += ‘;D:\Scripts’. Close Notepad and save the file.
notepad.exe $PROFILEFrom now, every time when open a PowerShell session:
- The PowerShell profile is loaded.
- The command $Env:PATH += ‘;D:\Scripts’ is executed automatically.
- And then the folder D:\Scripts would be added as a path environment variable for the session.
Additionally, the command could be added to the PowerShell profile usinh the below command:
Add-Content $PROFILE -Value "`$Env:PATH += ';D:\Scripts'"Using the Add-Content cmdlet, you can append more paths to the PowerShell profile ($profile) automatically when running your script.
PS C:\> Add-Content $PROFILE -Value "`$Env:PATH += ';D:\Scripts'"
PS C:\> Add-Content $PROFILE -Value "`$Env:PATH += ';C:\Scripts'"
PS C:\> Get-Content $PROFILE
$Env:PATH += ';D:\Scripts'
$Env:PATH += ';C:\Scripts'To verify it works, open a new PowerShell session then check if D:\Scripts is added automatically.
Because it’s automatically added every time you start PowerShell. So, we can consider it is persistent.
PowerShell execution policy
In the first time after creating the PowerShell profile, when starting PowerShell, you could get the below error:
. : File C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1 cannot be loaded
because running scripts is disabled on this system. For more information, see about_Execution_Policies at
https:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170.
At line:1 char:3
+ . 'C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft. ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : SecurityError: (:) [], PSSecurityException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : UnauthorizedAccessYou get it because by default, Windows does not allow to run any PowerShell script. PowerShell profile is a PowerShell script, so, it is blocked from running.
PS C:\> $PROFILE
C:\Users\admin\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1To fix it, let’s run the below command in an elevated PowerShell session. Close then re-open PowerShell to see it works without any error.
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -ForceAdd a Directory to PATH Environment Variables in GUI
Alternatively, if you don’t want to do it using PowerShell. You can do it with GUI from Control Panel.
1. Type env into the search box, under the best match select Edit the system environment variables.
2. In the System Properties window, select Environment Variables…
3. You can add the folder to either user or system variables. For instance, we will add it to the PATH environment variable in the user scope. Select Path → Edit…
4. Click New → Enter the path of the folder you want to add to. In our case, we add D:\Scripts.
5. Click OK three times to save the changes.
Finally, open a new PowerShell window, from now, we can run the script by enter its name (can use Tab for auto completion) instead of typing the full path of the script or navigating to its location.
Not a reader? Watch this related video tutorial:
