The Mingw binary installation instructions (such as these) tells me to change the PATH environment variable in Windows, in order to use the gcc/g etc commands anywhere. This might also be necessary for some programming IDE to find the compiler. Failing to do so yields errors such as this:

'gcc' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

How do I do this specifically in newer versions of Windows (10/11) and which path should I use?

CodePudding user response：

• Right-click "My Computer"/"This PC" from Windows explorer and pick properties. Alternatively Windows key X and click "System". An "About" window appears.
• Scroll down to "Advanced system settings" and click on it.
• Click on the "Environment Variables" button.
• Select "Path" in the window that appears and click the edit button.
• Click on "Edit text" (not on "Edit"!).
• Before modifying anything, I strongly recommend to copy the text there and save it in a text file for backup, so that you can restore the PATH in case of mistakes.
• Write a semicolon ; at the end of the text there unless already present. Then after the semicolon add the full path to your Mingw installation's bin folder. For example ;c:\mingw_w64\bin.
• Important: if you installed Mingw under for example C:\program files\mingw_w64, then the path must be ;C:\Program Files\mingw-w64\bin; without any surrounding " ... ". If using the "Edit" command available in this window, then the " ... " will get added and this may break the gcc path from working. (It just happened to me and that's the reason why I decided to write this Q&A.)
• Click OK for each open window.
• Reboot Windows.

Now you should be able to type gcc from the command line or use it from your programming IDE.

CodePudding user response：

Alternatively, for CLI users:

1. Open cmd.
2. Type PATH.
3. Add the absolute path to the bin folder to it.
4. Place a semi-colon at the end.
5. Press enter.
6. Reboot.

And you're done.

Edit: For the full path to the bin folder:

• cd your way to Mingw installation's bin folder, or alternatively, press windows key e.
• Open mingw -> bin.
• Copy the full path present in the search bar.

As @Lundin said, you should first make a copy of the original PATH and save it, just in case something goes wrong.