Windows – How to refresh the PATH variable from the registry, without a reboot, logoff, or restarting explorer

batch fileenvironment-variableswindowswindows-registry

I've made some changes to the %PATH% variable in the registry. Now, I'd like to see those changes applied without having to go so far as a logoff, reboot, or reload of Explorer. Is there a way this can be done?

I'd rather do this via some sort of command that can be put at the end of a .BAT file, and don't want to use any tools other than those that come with the OS in a fresh install. This needs to be minimally compatible with Windows XP SP3, and should work all the way up to Windows 7 x64 and Server 2008 R2.

Best Answer

Change either User or System PATH in System Properties.
Running this batch file pulls the new PATH variables with a REG query.
The FOR commands parse the PATH variables from the REG results.
The current PATH is updated to the registry values.
I use ConEmu for my consoles and it runs this batch file on each new console to refresh the PATH so a reboot isn't necessary.

@echo off
echo.
echo Refreshing PATH from registry

:: Get System PATH
for /f "tokens=2*" %%A in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" /v Path') do set syspath=%%B

:: Get User Path
for /f "tokens=2*" %%A in ('reg query "HKCU\Environment" /v Path') do set userpath=%%B

:: Set Refreshed Path
set PATH=%userpath%;%syspath%

echo Refreshed PATH
echo %PATH%

```

The task Commands parameter in ConEmu launches C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe with the /k switch to run the refreshpath.cmd above and then remain. That updates the path and leaves the console open.

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /k refreshpath.cmd

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Windows – How to permanently append an entry into the system’s PATH variable, via command line

The following adds 'C:\bin' to your path and then saves the new path into the Registry:

set path=%path%;C:\bin
reg.exe ADD "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" /v Path /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d %path% /f

I only tested this on XP SP3, but it should work on newer version as well.

I guess a new user who logs on before the machine reboots may not get the new path.

Harry is right with his comment about %SystemRoot%, if you want to keep these, you need to pull the old value for path from the registry first:

@echo OFF

set KEY_NAME="HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment"
set VALUE_NAME=Path

FOR /F "usebackq skip=4 tokens=1-3" %%A IN (`REG QUERY %KEY_NAME% /v %VALUE_NAME% 2^>nul`) DO (
  set ValueName=%%A
  set ValueValue=%%C
)

if defined ValueName (

  set newPath=%ValueValue%;C:\bin

  reg.exe ADD "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" /v Path /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d %newPath% /f

  set path=%path%;C:\bin

) else (
    @echo %KEY_NAME%\%VALUE_NAME% not found.
)

Windows – Git for Windows: how to apply changes in PATH without reboot

Okay, my problem was that i was starting Git Bash from a file manager's context menu. Without being restarted, the file manager remembered the obsolete PATH and somehow transferred it to Git Bash.

Thanks to @gronostaj and @Forza for testing this issue.

Best Answer

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Windows – How to permanently append an entry into the system’s PATH variable, via command line

Windows – Git for Windows: how to apply changes in PATH without reboot

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