How to add multiple PATHs to the System Variable in Environment Variables in Windows 10?

Question

I mistakenly deleted the entire PATH variable under System Variables. So I tried to add a variable named PATH explicitly, to the System Variable. But now whenever I try to add multiple PATHs, each PATH overwrites the previous one.

Screenshot 1

As you can see, instead of opening the list of paths, it just gives the option of one path. So I tried to append a PATH variable using command line.

setx path "D:\Softwares\MongoDB\bin" /m

Screenshot 2

It still overwrites the previous path. As shown, the Java path(from Screenshot 1) got overwritten by the MongoDB path.

How do I resolve this issue ? How do I add multiple paths to the PATH variable ?

P.S - I use Windows 10 (64 bit).

Answer 1

I have found the solution to this problem and posting this as a reference for anyone in future who deletes their PATH variable entirely.

1. Open run.(Press Window Key + R)

2. Type regedit.

3. Navigate through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SYSTEM -> ControlSet001 -> Control Session Manager -> Environment

4. There will be a PATH variable. If not, create a variable and name it Path.

5. Enter all your paths each seperated by a semi-colon. For example - D:\Softwares\Java\bin;D:\Softwares\MingW\bin;D:\Softwares\MongoDB\bin;

Answer 2

Try like this:

setx path "%path%;D:\Softwares\MongoDB\bin" 

This will append the path to original path variable. Here your mistake was you weren't appending the new path to the PATH variable but just overwriting it.

Answer 3

I just discovered that if you do add more than one path separated by a semi-colon on the single-interface and close the window, the next time you edit the variable it will display it with the multi-path options like you had with the Path variable.

Note that you have to manually add the additional path after the semi-colon in the one-line interface. That is, you can't use the "Browse" button, it will just overwrite your first path.

Answer 4

You can add each of the PATH values you require and separate them with semi-colons