Path from command prompt is different from Path in Environment Variables

Question

Path from command prompt is different from Path in Environment Variables

Hong 1,246

In Command Prompt, path command generates the following (I added new-lines to make it more readable):

PATH= C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath; C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_192; C:\Python38\Scripts; C:\Python38; C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Azure\CLI2\wbin; C:\Windows\system32; C:\Windows; C:\Windows\System32\Wbem; C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0; C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH; C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Windows Performance Toolkit; C:\Program Files\dotnet; C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\130\Tools\Binn; C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\Client SDK\ODBC\130\Tools\Binn; C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\140\Tools\Binn; C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\140\Tools\Binn;C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL However, the window of Environment Variables shows the following: User's image

It does not have the following: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath; C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_192; C:\Python38\Scripts; I think I deleted some of them with the Control Panel. Could anyone shed some light on this?

Accepted answer

0 additional answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Michael Taylor 60,161

The PATH variable for a console app is generated by taking first the PATH variable defined by SYSTEM. That is the bottom part of the screenshot you showed. Then it appends the PATH variable defined by the current user. That is what you're showing in your screenshot.

On top of that it is possible to add additional values, either before or after, by editing the PATH variable in startup scripts that might run when the terminal is started.

I should point out that system environment variable changes are not refreshed unless you reboot generally. That is because they are cached until not referenced anymore and therefore are probably still in use for most processes. User environment variable changes won't take effect on any current user process but new user processes should see the update. This can have a dramatic impact if you're changing variables for users that are running services as the services won't see the changes.

Hong 1,246 Reputation points

2024-02-07T20:43:09.7166667+00:00

Thank you for your help. I am sorry but I forgot to mention those extra paths are not in the user's path at the top. I am having "The system cannot find the path specified." after I deleted some directories. I am wondering if my editing in the Control Panel has not taken effect. Let me try to add something to test my guess and I will report back.
Michael Taylor 60,161 Reputation points

2024-02-07T20:59:18.5466667+00:00

Check both the system variables AND the user's variables. My guess is they are defined in the system variables because they are some of the first values. If you make any changes then reboot.

Make sure you start the command prompt directly from Windows and not using a start menu icon created by a program (like Visual Studio). This will confirm the paths are correct. If you're using a shortcut created by a program then you have to look to see if the shortcut is running a startup script that might modify the path as well.
Hong 1,246 Reputation points

2024-02-07T21:08:43+00:00

I have just realized that there is no need to add an entry to do the aforementioned test. The top entry ("C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21\bin") in my screenshot cannot be found in the output of the path command. That is the entry I added earlier today. I guess the next test would be rebooting my PC unless there is another way to force the Command Prompt to take the path edited in the Control Panel.
Michael Taylor 60,161 Reputation points

2024-02-07T21:19:03.18+00:00

System env var changes require a reboot. User env var changes generally just require logging out and back in, unless they are running services or other long running processes.
Hong 1,246 Reputation points

2024-02-07T21:46:07.16+00:00

Thank you for all the tips. I have just rebooted the PC and it is even more bizarre now. All my editing of the Path variable is gone. Now, the control panel is consistent with the output of the Path command. When I edited the Path variable, I closed the editing window and Environment Variables window multiple times because I could not find an apply button and figured clicking OK to close the windows would save the editing. I must be missing something very fundamental.
Michael Taylor 60,161 Reputation points

2024-02-07T22:30:46.54+00:00

Clicking OK in the Edit environment variable window saves any changes made within the window including moving items around and add/edit/delete of items. If you click Cancel then all your changes are undone.

Clicking OK in the Environment Variables window saves changes made when you add/edit/delete variables. If you make changes in User/System variables and click OK but then click Cancel in the main window then all your changes are thrown out. Until you click OK in the Environment Variables window then all your changes are saved in memory and not persisted back to the actual place where these values are stored.
Hong 1,246 Reputation points

2024-02-09T00:35:39.0766667+00:00

I never clicked cancel. I edited the variables again and then rebooted the PC. It did it this time. I do not know how to explain this. I know only one way to edit variables and save them and that is the only way I used. To confirm this, I edited another variable and it did not take effect after I clicked the OK buttons, then I rebooted the PC once more and the the variable took effect. Michael, could you turn your comment "System env var changes require a reboot." into an answer for me to accept? Thank you again for all the help.

Share via

Path from command prompt is different from Path in Environment Variables

0 additional answers

Your answer