Add programs to the PATH variable

The PATH variable in Windows allows you to run programs from anywhere in the system without having to specify the full path.

So if, for example, you want to use curl, you simply type in the terminal:

C:>curl

curl: try ‘curl –help’ for more information

But that only works because Windows knows where the curl.exe is located.

To find out where it is located, you can use the where command:

C:>where curl

C:WindowsSystem32curl.exe

If you want to use a new program that isn’t in the PATH, there’s the cumbersome way. For example, if you want to use ffmpeg and have downloaded it, you could always provide the full path to the EXE:

C:>C:UsersUSERNAMEdownloadsffmpeg.exe

ffmpeg version 2025-10-30-git-00c23bafb0-full_build-www.gyan.dev Copyright (c) 2000-2025 the FFmpeg developers

That’s annoying, though. Therefore you can use the Windows PATH variable. There you enter paths that Windows searches. So if you enter ffmpeg then Windows will automatically search the paths listed there for executables such as ffmpeg.exe or even ffmpeg.bat.

How to add a folder to the PATH variable

My recommendation: create a folder c:\cmdtools there.
We’ll add this to the PATH variable. From then on, new tools only need to be placed in this folder and you can use them in any terminal.

Open the system variables

Open the Start menu and, while it’s open, type “Variable”. Select “Edit the system environment variables”.

A new window will open. Open “Environment Variables”.
Now you’ll see various Windows system variables.
Select PATH and then click “Edit”.

Entering the correct path

Click “New”. Now you can enter the appropriate path into the empty field.
For example, c:\cmdtools

Important

Please close all dialogs and open a new terminal. It won’t work in terminals that are already open. If you have now copied, for example, ffmpeg.exe to c:\cmdtools and c:\cmdtools added it to the PATH variable, then the following should work.

C:>where ffmpeg

C:cmdtoolsffmpeg.exe

From now on you can run ffmpeg from any folder and use this tool.