Overview –
Environment Variables in Windows
It seems that you’re learning to program and trying to refresh environment variables in Windows 11 without rebooting your computer and restarting your project and disrupting the workflow.
The Windows OS provides a way for system administrators to change the values of environment variables in the registry. A special section of the registry called “Environment” contains all user-defined environment variables. You can modify these values through the use of the “Regedit” application.
An environment variable is a named object that contains data used by one or more applications. The environment variables are stored in the registry, where they can be viewed and edited using standard tools.
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to refresh environment variables in Windows without rebooting your computer:
Using Chocolatey Package Manager (Recommended)
Using Command Prompt
What are Environment
Variables in Windows
Variables are used to store many sorts of data. System settings, inventory statuses, and other data can be stored in these variables. Environment Variables are a type of variable that contains environmental information about a computer. The environment variables in Windows can be used to make changes to the system without having to edit the registry.
The variables in the environment are used to define variables for a variety of purposes. Windows itself does not require them. You put up these variables, and they determine how Windows runs it. You can use them, for example, to identify your user or its location.
Environment Variables in Windows help you to assign values that will be used during the process of execution of any command on your computer. This will allow these commands to execute on a given set of values, altering their appearance.
1. Refresh
Environment Variables via Chocolatey Package Manager
(Recommended)
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt from the Start menu, copy and paste the following command to install chocolatey package manager on your PC:
@”%SystemRoot%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe” -NoProfile -InputFormat None -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command “[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString(‘https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1’))” && SET “PATH=%PATH%;%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\chocolatey\bin”
Command to install Chocolatey using CMD
Step 2: After installing the Chocolatey Package Manager, type the command “refreshenv” (without quotation marks) to refresh system variables.
Refresh environment variables using chocolatey
NOTE: After the installation of the chocolatey package manager, every time you type and execute the “refreshenv” command, the environment variables will be refreshed immediately, without the need to restart the computer.
2. Refresh
Environment Variables via Command Prompt (CMD)
Step 1: In the Start menu, search for Command Prompt and run it as an administrator.
Command Prompt (CMD) Icon
Step 2: Type the command: “set PATH = c” (without quotation marks), press the enter key, and restart the Command Prompt.
“set PATH = c” command
Step 3: Type the command: “echo %PATH%” (without quotation marks) and press the enter key to reset system variables using CMD.
“echo %Path%” command
NOTE: After installing the PostgreSQL (PgAdmin 4), I tried this way to update environment variables, and it worked nicely.
FAQs Related to
Environment Variables
What
is the difference between System variables and Environment
variables?
System environment variables are globally accessed by all users. The user Environment variables are specific only to the currently logged-in user and remain the default for the other users.
Where are the
system variables stored in the registry?
The actual location of system variables in the registry is: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Session Manager > Environment.
Are environment
variables stored in memory?
Environment variables and command line parameters are kept together at the top of the process memory structure, above the layer.
Next
Steps
When you change the value of an environment variable in windows, the changes are not applied to your current windows session. You have to either log out and log in again or restart your device. But, in this article, we’ve covered how to reset environment variables in Windows 11 without rebooting the computer.
Variables can be accessed through DOS commands by typing “set”. They can also be accessed through other programs such as PowerShell and Command Prompt using the Control Panel applet or any other number of available applications for manipulating environment variables.
It’s important to know that the changes you make in the environment variables will be modified for other users of the system as well. They should not, however, be confused with Environment Variables in Windows.
Further, customize your computer’s configuration by referring to the related articles below.
Posted on
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description: Add a windows environment varibale without rebooting the computer
process to refresh environment variables without reboot windows
- open cmd commend prompt window
- input
set PATH=C-> this will refresh the environment variables - close and restart cmd window
- input
echo %PATH%to test
- Post author: killfun
-
Post link:
http://search4fan.github.io/post/win10_new_system_variable_without_restart.html - Copyright Notice: All articles in this blog are licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 unless stating additionally.
- How to Set Environment Variable in Windows
- How do you add a Windows environment variable without rebooting?
- Setting a Environment Variable without restarting in Windows
- How to Set Environment Variable in Windows
- Access custom environment variable without rebooting (using C++)
How to Set Environment Variable in Windows
People also askHow to change the environment variables in Windows 10?How to
change the environment variables in Windows 10?Press Windows + R to open the
Windows Run prompt. 2. Type in sysdm.cpl and click OK. 3. Open the Advanced
tab and click on the Environment Variables button in the System Properties
window. 4. The Environment Variables window is divided into two sections.Set
Environment Variable in Windows {How-To} phoenixNAP KB
set
Get-ChildItem Env:
echo %[variable_name]%
echo $Env:[variable_name]
setx [variable_name] "[variable_value]"
setx Test_variable "Variable value"
setx [variable_name] "[variable_value]" /M
reg query HKEY_CURRENT_USEREnvironment
reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerEnvironment"
reg query HKEY_CURRENT_USEREnvironment /v [variable_name]
reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerEnvironment" /v [variable_name]
reg delete HKEY_CURRENT_USEREnvironment /v [variable_name] /f
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerEnvironment" /v [variable_name] /f
setx [variable_name] trashHow do you add a Windows environment variable without rebooting?
check that your new path has been added to the environment variable. 3. echo
%PATH% Done. Make the variable available on reboot. 1. Press
WinLogoKey+Pause/Break 2. On the left …
1. Open a shell
2. PATH=%PATH%;C:\type\your\new\path\here
3. echo %PATH%
1. Press WinLogoKey+Pause/Break
2. On the left pane, press 'Advanced System Settings'
3. On the 'Advanced' tab, click 'Environment Variables'
4. In 'System Variables' choose the one you want to modify
5. Click Ok
setx PATH "%PATH%;c:\temp\my\new\path"Setting a Environment Variable without restarting in Windows
When i set the system environment variable using «setx» thins work fine, But
given that i want to use the same script code for XP and Windows 7 I cannot do
this on XP …
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set objVariable = objWMIService.Get("Win32_Environment").SpawnInstance_
objVariable.Name = "TestKey"
objVariable.UserName = "<System>"
objVariable.VariableValue = "TestValue"
objVariable.Put_How to Set Environment Variable in Windows
Set Environment Variable in Windows via GUI. Follow the steps to set
environment variables using the Windows GUI: 1. Press Windows + R to open the
…
set
Get-ChildItem Env:
echo %[variable_name]%
echo $Env:[variable_name]
setx [variable_name] "[variable_value]"
setx Test_variable "Variable value"
setx [variable_name] "[variable_value]" /M
reg query HKEY_CURRENT_USEREnvironment
reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerEnvironment"
reg query HKEY_CURRENT_USEREnvironment /v [variable_name]
reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerEnvironment" /v [variable_name]
reg delete HKEY_CURRENT_USEREnvironment /v [variable_name] /f
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerEnvironment" /v [variable_name] /f
setx [variable_name] trashAccess custom environment variable without rebooting (using C++)
3. If you want to do this without rebooting the system you need to broadcast
it. Something along the lines of. SendMessageTimeout (HWND_BROADCAST, …
SendMessageTimeout(HWND_BROADCAST, WM_SETTINGCHANGE, 0,
(LPARAM) "Environment", SMTO_ABORTIFHUNG,
5000, &dwReturnValue);
SendMessageTimeout(HWND_BROADCAST, WM_SETTINGCHANGE, 0,
(LPARAM) _T("Environment"), SMTO_ABORTIFHUNG,
5000, &dwReturnValue);🔄 Refresh Environment Variables in Windows Command Prompt Easily!
👋 Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Have you ever found yourself scratching your head when modifying or adding environment variables in Windows Command Prompt? 🤔 Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we will unravel the mystery behind efficiently refreshing environment variables without resorting to the tedious process of restarting CMD. 💡
The Dilemma: Restarting CMD for Refreshing Environment Variables
Let’s set the stage: you make changes to an environment variable, but alas, you realize that the changes won’t take effect until you restart the trusty old Command Prompt. 😫 This can be quite inconvenient, especially when dealing with complex setups or needing to quickly validate changes. Thankfully, Windows provides us with a handy solution that saves us from unnecessary frustration. 🙌
Introducing the Refresh Command: setx
Enter stage right, the setx command! This command allows you to refresh environment variables within seconds, no restart required. Isn’t that amazing? 😍 Here’s how it works:
-
Open Command Prompt by typing «cmd» in the Windows search bar and clicking on the «Command Prompt» or «Command Prompt (Admin)» option.
-
In the Command Prompt window, simply type the following command:
setx VARIABLE_NAME "new_value"Replace
VARIABLE_NAMEwith the name of the variable you want to modify or add, and"new_value"with the updated value you desire. For example, to modify thePATHvariable, you could use:setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\new\path" -
Press Enter, and voilà! 🎉 The environment variable will be refreshed instantly, without the need to close and reopen your Command Prompt window.
By using the setx command, you can quickly update your environment variables on-the-fly, making troubleshooting and testing a breeze. 💨
Common Issues & Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues while using the setx command, fear not! Here are two common problems and their solutions:
-
The variable doesn’t immediately reflect the changes: In some cases, even after executing the
setxcommand, the updated value might not appear immediately. To force the updates to take effect, close all open Command Prompt windows and relaunch them. -
Access denied while modifying environment variables: If you encounter an «Access Denied» error, try running Command Prompt as an administrator. Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and select the «Run as administrator» option.
If you still face issues after trying the above solutions, feel free to seek further assistance in our comments section!
Engage with Your Thoughts and Experiences!
We would love to hear about your experiences with refreshing environment variables using the setx command! Did it simplify your workflow? Do you have any alternative methods that work best for you? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below. Let’s geek out together! 🤓
Don’t forget to share this blog post with your tech-savvy friends who might be battling the environment variable conundrum! The refreshment of their CMD awaits them. 😉🔁
Until next time, happy coding! 💻✨
Update
I haven’t used Windows for over a decade, but this page gets a lot of hits, so I
leave it here assuming and hopeful it is helpful.
—
I find it quite annoying that whenever I read instructions that include adding
an environment path variable you are asked to reboot your machine for changes to
take effect. I know there has GOT to be a way to do it. Well, I know a way, but
it’s someway kludgy.
Here is how I do it (I’m really hoping someone will comment and tell me a better
way)
-
Open your system properties window. Screenshots below are for Vista:
-
Open you Environment Variables Window.
-
Double Click on you Path (if you want to just change you path for your login,
use the top one, if you want to change it for all logins, use the bottom one) -
Append the path you would like to add, separated with a semi-colon. Below, I
am adding C:\CmdShortcuts
…
Now, reboot your computer! Argh! J/K
Here is the kludgy hack that I use so I don’t have to reboot. (But it will not
work in all cases, which is why I don’t like it, so please, if you know of a
batch script or something I can run that will apply the changes made to the
environment variables without rebooting, please post a comment.)
Open a comment window and type SET PATH=%PATH%;C:\CmdShortcuts
You can type PATH again to see your path variables. Your new path should be
added. The problem with this is that this new path variable is only good inside
this command window. If you are doing command line stuff this works, but if you
close your cmd window the change is lost.