Error "'git' is not recognized as an internal or external command"

Question

I have an installation of Git for Windows, but when I try to use the git command in Command Prompt, I get the following error:

'git' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

How do I fix this problem?

The content added by garbage collection in the edit on changing the path should be part of Abizem's answer, a new answer, or at least in the comments to Abizem's answer. It should not be part of the question. — gotgenes, Dec 20 '10 at 20:29
I had the same problem when I am trying to change the proxy settings to install some packages from github in R. Later only I have realized that I didnot install git itself. I was having github desktop. It didnt stike me. Anyway, anyone comes here, please check whether you have installed git or not first — David, May 07 '18 at 04:57
Related post - [Why was git installed in AppData instead of Program Files?](https://stackoverflow.com/q/32297340/465053) - This can also be an issue even after successful installation of Git. Please ensure that you run git setup with a user account having administrative privileges. — RBT, Jul 09 '18 at 10:17
CMD was opened during the installation of GIT – If you recently installed Git for Windows while a Command Prompt window was opened, the issue might be resolved as soon as you re-open Command Prompt. — s.dragos, Dec 25 '20 at 16:27
I installed Git and tried using Command prompt under actions in Team explorer/Changes. — Kurkula, Feb 04 '16 at 19:49
add `C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\CommonExtensions\Microsoft\TeamFoundation\Team Explorer\Git\cmd` to PATH if you are installed vs 2019. — afruzan, May 16 '21 at 08:51
Here's a [git not recognized error tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IflluA2tt14) that helped me. — InfiniteStack, Jul 05 '23 at 03:20

score 848 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 12 '23 at 21:51

848

You may not have set your PATH correctly to point at your Git installation.

You need to add the following paths to PATH:

C:\Program Files\Git\bin\
C:\Program Files\Git\cmd\

And check that these paths are correct. You may have Git installed on a different drive, or under Program Files (x86). Correct the paths if necessary.

Modifying PATH on Windows 10:

In the Start Menu or taskbar search, search for "environment variable".
Select "Edit the system environment variables".
Click the "Environment Variables" button at the bottom.
Double-click the "Path" entry under "System variables".
With the "New" button in the PATH editor, add C:\Program Files\Git\bin\ and C:\Program Files\Git\cmd\ to the end of the list.
Close and re-open your console.

Modifying PATH on Windows 7:

Right-click "Computer" on the Desktop or Start Menu.
Select "Properties".
On the very far left, click the "Advanced system settings" link.
Click the "Environment Variables" button at the bottom.
Double-click the "Path" entry under "System variables".
At the end of "Variable value", insert a ; if there is not already one, and then C:\Program Files\Git\bin\;C:\Program Files\Git\cmd\. Do not put a space between ; and the entry.
Close and re-open your console.

If these instructions weren't helpful, feel free to look at some others:

How to set the path and environment variables in Windows (Computer Hope)
How to edit your system PATH for easy command line access in Windows (How-To Geek)
How to set Path environment variables in Windows 10 (Addictive Tips)
What are PATH and other environment variables, and how can I set or use them? (Super User)

edited Feb 12 '23 at 21:51

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 20 '10 at 19:16

Abizern

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If you dont know where is Git floder. In windows 7 the path could be: ;C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\cmd – Jorge Nunez Newton Dec 16 '12 at 16:54
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Or use GitShell, press Start and type "GitShell" to locate it. You do not have to worry about the Path stuff anymore. – Minh Triet May 08 '13 at 02:04
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put in bold the "Do not add a space between ; and last entry" part. Ate one hour of my time X( – Nicu Surdu Oct 18 '13 at 11:01
1

we know how to use Env. Variables we need to know which is the variable needed for that !!! I used Gitshell and got the same error. – Konstantinos Korovesis Nov 04 '13 at 15:52
You add the path of your git installation to your `Path` variable. – Abizern Nov 04 '13 at 16:07
6

Which path should I add on **PATH**; `\bin` , `\libexec\git-core` or `\cmd`? Each of them contains `git.exe`. – IronBlossom May 29 '14 at 11:38
To find out where git is in your windows environment (or most apps for that matter), open powershell and do: {{{ where.exe git }}} – Jesse Nov 20 '14 at 16:48
3

Is there a difference between `cmd` and `bin`? – Thomas Sep 15 '15 at 15:21
Warn for **jenkins slave** users : "restarting the Jenkins service alone is not enough" [via Leif Gruenwoldt & Joe Intrakamhang](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15231613/jenkins-git-release-failure) you will need to restart Windows to take effect. – boly38 Feb 02 '16 at 10:55
@IronBlossom bin is the version to use according to this link. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/msysgit/h7GcZXcYfmA – AXMIM Feb 18 '16 at 14:45
**Do not add a space between ; and last entry** - This helped me – Chandra Shekhar Sep 12 '17 at 09:49
In my case i found path on C:\Users\pallav.bohara\AppData\Local\Programs\Git\bin – pallav bohara May 07 '18 at 14:54
If you wanna know the git path folder, open a command prompt in windows OS and type: where git – johnander11 Aug 20 '18 at 15:47
@Abizern: when calling `git.exe` using `subprocess` in Python (on windows 10), should we use the one from `bin/` or the one from `cmd/`? (also see comment by @thomas) – djvg Dec 12 '18 at 07:40
@Dennis As I'm not an active Windows user I don't know. It might be worth asking a separate question about this. – Abizern Dec 13 '18 at 09:12
1

In case if you are still getting error after setting the PATH variables, just restart your machine and it will work. – Janusz01 Apr 20 '19 at 05:26
for me the insallation was in the C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Programs\Git\bin...You can search your directory by doing "Open file location" for any of the git shortcuts. Basically you locate the git.exe and add that to your path – ambassallo Nov 18 '20 at 12:21
worked for me only after restarting windows (even though restart is not supposed to be required) – Neil Jun 02 '21 at 01:07
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Even to this very day with Visual Studio 2019's latest update(yesterday - 13/10/2021) they like removing Git from the Environment variables' path. This is my go to comment for fixing this, so big props to you helping to fix Microsoft's regressions! – Lee Oct 14 '21 at 08:45

score 215 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 21:59

215

If you opened the cmd prompt before installation of Git, close and reopen it.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 21:59

Peter Mortensen

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answered Feb 20 '13 at 02:18

GP2

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For people wondering why this can solve the issue, `Environment Variables` are only read when an application (in this case `cmd`) is launched. Relaunching it would allow it to read again the `Environment Variables` and see the updated `PATH`. – emartel Jul 03 '13 at 00:58
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Oops.. I wasted 20+ mins without realizing that I've to re-open my cmd prompt. Your answer worked for me!! Thanks. – pavanw3b Mar 15 '15 at 13:15
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This worked for me as well, because I was using `Powershell` inside VS Code. Re-opening the application did the trick. Thank you. – Surjith S M Sep 17 '18 at 12:17
this resolved the issue for me on Win 10 – gdogra Jan 30 '22 at 15:42
It's also worth noting that if using Windows Terminal in Windows 11, closing the tab and reopening doesn't reinitialize the environment. ***All*** tabs need to be closed and Windows Terminal needs to be completely restarted to do so. – owacoder Mar 14 '22 at 15:28

score 62 · Answer 3 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 21:58

Go to My Computer → Local Disk(C:) → Program Files(x86) → Git → cmd
Right-click the git → Select Properties
Under the location, copy the text. For example, C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\cmd
Come back to the Desktop
Right-click My Computer
Select property
Open Advanced
Click Environment Variables
In the System variables, find the Variable call Path
Click the variable
Click the Edit button
Select the Variable value text box.
Go to the edge of the text and add semicolon(;)
Then right-click and press Paste
Press OK

score 53 · Answer 4 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:36

53

An easy route to avoid messing with PATH variables: reinstall Git and select "Use Git from the Windows Command Prompt". It'll take of the PATH variables for you as mentioned. See the screenshot:

edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:36

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 16 '15 at 20:16

Justice O.

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Full instructions on configuration of Git on Windows: https://phoenixnap.com/kb/how-to-install-git-windows – Carlo Carandang Apr 17 '22 at 17:41
Hmm, I'm pretty sure I selected that, but possible I didn't. – Paul Nov 28 '22 at 22:16

score 45 · Answer 5 · edited Oct 16 '18 at 04:20

45

If you are using GitHub for Windows (GitHub's old Git GUI that is no longer available for download, not the new Electron-based GitHub Desktop), you have an installation of Git under:

C:\Users\<YOUR USERNAME>\AppData\Local\GitHub\PortableGit_8810fd5c2c79c73adcc73fd0825f3b32fdb816e7\cmd

Expand this path, and add it to PATH.

edited Oct 16 '18 at 04:20

MultiplyByZer0

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answered Feb 14 '13 at 06:27

surinder singh

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C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Local\GitHub\PortableGit_8810fd5c2c79c73adcc73fd0825f3b32fdb816e7/cmd is what worked for me. – The_Martian Jan 06 '16 at 05:20

score 37 · Answer 6 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:26

37

If you want to set up for a temporary purpose, just execute the below command.

Open a command prompt: Run → cmd
Run the below command.

set PATH=C:\Program Files\Git\bin;%PATH%
Type git. It will work.

This is valid for current windows/cell only. If you will close command prompt, everything will get vanish.

For permanently changing the setting, set the GIT environment variable.

Press Window + Pause
Click on Advanced system settings.
Click on Environment variable under the Advanced tab.
Edit Path Variable.
Add the below line in end of the statement.

;c:\Program Files\Git\bin;
Press OK!!
Open a new command prompt <Point 1>.
Type git and press Enter

edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:26

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 18 '15 at 11:13

Sandeep kr gupta

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Good alternate suggestion to put it on the path temporarily. I would also suggest that one could just specify the full path to git in this scenario as well. – BuvinJ Oct 13 '15 at 17:23
Thx! PS. If adding `git/bin` file does not work, try adding `git/cmd` to the path as well. – Chris Tang Mar 03 '21 at 10:45

score 9 · Answer 7 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:33

9

If you get this error, you might not have Git installed in your system.

Download it here:

Downloads

Install it.

If you have Windows, you will now see a C:\Program Files\Git folder.

Open a new Command Prompt window, and try running the Git command again.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:33

Peter Mortensen

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answered Oct 06 '20 at 19:25

live-love

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the funny thing is after checknig your answser & upvoting it, I started going bakc to Visual studio to apply a git command _without actually downloading_ and installing git on my new machine.. because I am.. _sleepy!!_ – Irf Jan 29 '21 at 06:44

score 6 · Answer 8 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:19

6

Use Start menu → All Programs → Git → Git Bash.

It takes you directly to the Git shell.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:19

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jul 14 '15 at 16:23

Jeeves

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Presuming [Git Bash](https://superuser.com/questions/1053633/what-is-git-bash-for-windows-anyway) is installed. Is that always the case? – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:20

score 4 · Answer 9 · edited Feb 13 '23 at 00:17

Yo! I had lots of problems with this. It seems that GitHub brings its own console which you need to look for in your drive. I managed to finally run it by doing the following:

Press Start.
Search for "GitHub" (without quotes)
Right click on "GitHub" and select "Open File Location"

This shall open:
```
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GitHub, Inc
```
Where username is your PC's username.
Look for a program called "Git Shell". Double-click on it.

This will open a PowerShell command prompt. Then you can run your Git commands normally on it.

score 4 · Answer 10 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:58

4

If you're using Windows 10, do this:

Go to the Start menu
Start typing 'This PC'
Right-click This PC, and choose Properties
On the left side of the window that pops up, click on Advanced System Settings
Click on the Advanced tab
Click on the Environmental Variables button at the bottom
Down in the System Variables section, double-click Path
Click the New button in the top right corner
Add the path *C:\Program Files\Git\bin*, and then click the Enter key
Add another path: C:\Program Files\Git\cmd
Close and reopen the console if it's already open.

I stepped you through the long way so you gain exposure to the different Windows/menus.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:58

Peter Mortensen

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answered Feb 09 '19 at 15:54

CaptainGenesisX

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Re *"click the Enter key"*: Do you mean *press* the Enter key? Or click button "Enter" (or some other button, like "OK" or "Apply")? – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:58
Peter, unfortunately I don't remember anymore but I believe I was referring to whatever the confirmation button was (i.e. OK, Apply, etc. as you suggested) – CaptainGenesisX Feb 28 '23 at 19:53

score 3 · Answer 11 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:30

3

That's because at the time of installation you have selected the default radio button to use "Git" with the "Git Bash" only. If you would have chosen "Git and command line tool" then this would not be an issue.

Solution #1: as you have already installed a Git tool, now navigate to the desired folder. Right-click, use "Git Bash here" to run the same command, and it will run properly.
Solution #2: try installing the Git-scm again and select the proper choice.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:30

Peter Mortensen

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answered Nov 28 '15 at 12:40

Dynamic Remo

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Or in other words, uninstall and reinstall with checkbox "Git and command line tool" checked/enabled. – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:35
What version? It seems to be inconsistent with [this answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/34321267). Or is it another screen in the installation wizard? – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:38
All the installation wizard screens [are documented here](https://phoenixnap.com/kb/how-to-install-git-windows) (though that may be specific for a particular version). – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:40

score 3 · Answer 12 · answered May 21 '20 at 21:23

3

Search for GitHubDesktop\app-2.5.0\resources\app\git\cmd
Open the File
Copy File location.
Search for environment.
open edit system environment variable.
open Environment Variables.
on user variable double-click on Path.
click on new
past
OK
Open path on system variables.
New, past the add \ (backslash), then OK
Search for GitHubDesktop\app-2.5.0\resources\app\git\usr\bin\ 14 Copy the Address again and repeat pasting from step 4 to 12.

answered May 21 '20 at 21:23

user13592342

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Re *"Search for GitHubDesktop\app-2.5.0\resources\app\git\cmd"*: Where? On the Internet? On GitHub? In the local file system? – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 23:06

score 2 · Answer 13 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:49

I just wanted to add to Abizern's answer.

If anyone is using a non-administrator account, you can create a "local" variable instead of a "system" variable which allows access to standard/limited accounts.

When in the "Environmental Variables" window:

Select the "New..." button within the "User variables for ..." section.
Set the "Variable name:" as "path" and "Variable value:" as "[your-git-path]" (usually found at C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin).
Then click OK.

score 2 · Answer 14 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:46

2

I've faced the issue, and it got solved after installing Git.

Download it from the Downloads page.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:46

Peter Mortensen

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answered Aug 24 '22 at 13:12

Al Azad

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FWIW -- There are different variations supported in the docs https://github.com/git-guides/install-git#install-git-on-windows ----- https://gitforwindows.org/ is another option. – JayRizzo Oct 24 '22 at 18:48

score 2 · Answer 15 · answered Mar 23 '23 at 16:39

2

I have been suffering from this issues by using vscode. I just edit environment variable PATH on windows 10 as follows:

C:\Program Files\Git\bin

and reopen my terminal. It's working fine.

answered Mar 23 '23 at 16:39

Mahfuz Khandaker

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score 1 · Answer 16 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:00

1

This helps for me:

I set

C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\cmd

in path for environment variables.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:00

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 06 '18 at 15:42

Devendra Singraul

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Re *"I set"*: Don't you mean *"I add"*? In that case, [append](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/append#Verb) or [prepend](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/prepend#Verb)? – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:53
[More detailed instructions](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4492979/error-git-is-not-recognized-as-an-internal-or-external-command/54607910#54607910). – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:59

score 1 · Answer 17 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:26

1

Just check whether BitLocker has been enabled! I faced a similar issue where my Git in cmd was working fine. But after a quick restart, it didn't work, and I got the error as mentioned above.

So I had to unlock the BitLocker since I have installed Git in the hard disk drive volume (:E) which was encrypted by BitLocker.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:26

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 28 '20 at 06:05

Rahal Kanishka

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score 0 · Answer 18 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:42

0

Add this path in environment variables:

;C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\cmd

Note: the path may differ, but you should add both bin and cmd.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:42

Peter Mortensen

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answered Apr 16 '16 at 11:56

Thamaraiselvam

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Re *"Add this path in environment variables"*: That is too terse. Perhaps add a reference to instructions? There are probably hundreds on Stack Overflow. Though the canonical one would be preferred (may not be easy to find). – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:43
There are some attempts in some of the answers here. – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 22:49
One of the better attempts is [this answer](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4492979/error-git-is-not-recognized-as-an-internal-or-external-command/54607910#54607910) (but without any screenshots). – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 23:00

score 0 · Answer 19 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:46

0

After installation, open the GitHub application and in the top right corner you'd notice a settings icon. Select Options from the dropdown and choose "Default Shell" as Cmd.

Now try typing 'git shell' in the search (Windows key and type) and choose Git Shell. It should open up in CMD and Git should now be recognized.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:46

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 16 '16 at 13:15

johnmanoahs

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I think the user was using just git, not the github app. – Sebastianb Jun 16 '16 at 13:39

score 0 · Answer 20 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:03

0

Make sure correct the Git path is added to the Path variable in your Environment Variables. E.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\cmd. It can be different for your case, depending on where your Git gets installed.
If it doesn’t work, try restarting the command prompt, so that it reads the updated environment variables.
If it still doesn’t work, try restarting your machine to force the command prompt to read the updated environment variables.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:03

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 03 '19 at 09:50

Ghanendra

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[More detailed instructions](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4492979/error-git-is-not-recognized-as-an-internal-or-external-command/54607910#54607910). – Peter Mortensen Feb 12 '23 at 23:03

score 0 · Answer 21 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:05

0

I had this problem. When you install Git, you have to choose the right path. I mean, it should be the same path that you write git(code) in Git Bash

For example, if your path is C:\Users\username, you must install the Git in the same path (C:\Users\username). These two paths should not be different.

edited Feb 12 '23 at 23:05

Peter Mortensen

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answered May 17 '20 at 18:06

Negin msr

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score 0 · Answer 22 · answered Apr 06 '23 at 06:45

This is fixed by re-installing Git for me. If still does not work, you may try this -

You need to add the following paths to PATH:

C:\Program Files\Git\bin\
C:\Program Files\Git\cmd\

And check that these paths are correct. You may have Git installed on a different drive, or under Program Files (x86). Correct the paths if necessary.

Modifying PATH on Windows 10:

In the Start Menu or taskbar search, search for "environment variable".
Select "Edit the system environment variables".
Click the "Environment Variables" button at the bottom.
Double-click the "Path" entry under "System variables".
With the "New" button in the PATH editor, add C:\Program Files\Git\bin\ and C:\Program Files\Git\cmd\ to the end of the list.
Close and re-open your console.

score -2 · Answer 23 · edited Feb 12 '23 at 22:14

Windows 7 32 - bit

I am using Git for my Ruby on Rails application. First time so...

I created a .bat file for loading my Ruby on Rails applications with the paths manually typed using the tutorial How to install Ruby on Rails on Windows 7 - Part 1, Initial setup. If you are new to Ruby on Rails, you might want to check it out as I followed all steps and it works flawlessly after a few trials and errors.

(The .bat file is editable using Notepad++, hence there isn't any need for the long process. Whenever you need to edit a path, you can follow these simple process after creating a .bat file, following the tutorials on the link above "file is called row.bat".)

Right-click on the .bat file,
Edit with Notepad++.
Find the path.
Insert the path below the last path you inputted.

During the tutorials I don't remember anything was said in regards to using the Git command so when starting a new project, I had this same problem after installing Git.

The main issue I had was locating the folder with the bin/git.exe executable (git.exe did not show up in search using the Start menu's "search programs and files"). Note: I now understood that the location might vary drastically—see below.

To locate the bin/git.exe file I followed these steps:

Left-click the Start menu and locate → All programs → *GitHub inc.
Right-click Git shell and select open file location
Click through the folders in the file location for the folder "bin"

I had four folders named:

IgnoreTemplates_fdbf2020839cde135ff9dbed7d503f8e03fa3ab4
lfs-x86_0.5.1
PortableGit_c2ba306e536fdf878271f7fe636a147ff37326ad ("bin/exe, found here <<-")
PoshGit_869d4c5159797755bc04749db47b166136e59132

Copy the full link by clicking on the Windows Explorer's URL (mine was "C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\GitHub\PortableGit_c2ba306e536fdf878271f7fe636a147ff37326ad\bin"). Open the .bat file in Notepad++ and paste using the instructions on how to add a path to your .bat file from the tutorials above. Problem is solved!

Error "'git' is not recognized as an internal or external command"

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