# Adding Node.JS to the system path

###### tags: `Environment Variables` `Path`

*Posted 2022-07-04*

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[For Windows Users](#Windows-Users)

[For Linux users](#Linux-Users)

## Windows Users

Open the start menu and write "path". The following option should show up, click it.

<img width="50%" src="https://i.imgur.com/oblzlIp.png" alt="windows environment variables" style="margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:25%;" />
<p width="100%" style="text-align:center;">
Image 1: System environment variables
</p>

This opens the window for system properties. Click "Environment Variables..." to continue.

<img width="50%" src="https://i.imgur.com/xskGxQt.png" alt="windows environment variables" style="margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:25%;" />
<p width="100%" style="text-align:center;">
Image 2: System properies window
</p>

While you can add the path to only your user, Node.JS is used in many other applications and I strongly advice adding it to the **system variables** instead of **user variables**. Select "PATH" and click "Edit..."

<img width="50%" src="https://i.imgur.com/EkAYJ29.png" alt="windows environment variables" style="margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:25%;" />
<p width="100%" style="text-align:center;">
Image 3: Environment variables window
</p>

Finally just press "New" and input the path to your Node.JS installation in the new field under the already existing ones.

<img width="50%" src="https://i.imgur.com/MbpKS58.png" alt="windows environment variables" style="margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:25%;" />
<p width="100%" style="text-align:center;">
Image 4: Edit variables window
</p>

Now just press OK, OK, then, you guessed it, OK, and you're done!

## Linux Users
For Linux, literally execute the a single BASH command in the terminal of your liking:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/nodejs/bin