In the Windows environment, system environment variables play a crucial role in defining the behavior and configuration of various applications and processes. They are a set of dynamic values that can affect the way software functions on a system. This article will guide you through the process of editing system environment variables in the Windows operating system, providing you with the necessary knowledge to customize your system settings according to your needs.

Examples:

1. Editing System Environment Variables using the Control Panel:

• Press the Windows key + X and select "System" from the menu.


• Click on "Advanced system settings" in the left-hand pane.


• In the System Properties window, click on the "Environment Variables" button.


• In the Environment Variables window, you can edit both the User variables and System variables by selecting the variable and clicking on the "Edit" button.

2. Editing System Environment Variables using Command Prompt:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.


• To view the current system environment variables, type "set" and press Enter.


• To add a new system environment variable, use the "setx" command followed by the variable name and its value. For example, "setx PATH C:\NewPath" will add a new PATH variable with the value "C:\NewPath".


• To edit an existing system environment variable, use the "setx" command with the /M option followed by the variable name and its new value. For example, "setx /M PATH C:\UpdatedPath" will modify the value of the PATH variable to "C:\UpdatedPath".