PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command in command prompt

Question

I got the following error when I run a command with php

C:\xampp\htdocs>php
'php' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I don't get any error when I run the command with php in following path:

C:\xampp\php>php  //do not got error here

Why I get this error?

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

Alive to die - Anant · Accepted Answer · 2022-06-13T09:06:09.920

265

Add C:\xampp\php to your PATH environment variable.(My Computer->properties -> Advanced system setting-> Environment Variables->path (click on edit))

Then close your command prompt and restart again.

Note: It's very important to close your command prompt and restart again otherwise changes will not be reflected.

edited Jun 13 '22 at 09:06

answered Jul 08 '15 at 11:32

Alive to die - Anant

70,531
10
51
98

22

For Wamp the path is "C:\wamp64\bin\php\phpx.x.x" – Jaydip Kalkani Jun 06 '19 at 16:49
2

The note for this answer is super useful – Louis Ferreira Sep 05 '22 at 11:17

score 161 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 04 '20 at 12:40

161

You need to Go to My Computer->properties -> Advanced system setting

Now click on Environment Variables..

Add ;C:\xampp\php in path variable value

Now restart command prompt DONE!

Note: Make sure you run CMD via run as administrator

edited Dec 04 '20 at 12:40

Nigel Ren

56,122
11
43
55

answered Jan 12 '17 at 18:00

Prince Patel

2,990
1
21
28

is that variable is "path" or Path? – Muhammad Ali Sep 24 '21 at 07:38
@MuhammadAli There's only one Path variable in there. In the Environment Variables window, in the "System Variables" section, double click on the Path variable. This will take you to the "Edit environment variable" window. Click new and add the "C:\xampp\php\". – MJ DLS Jul 06 '23 at 09:07

score 20 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:14

20

You just need to a add the path of your PHP file. In case you are using wamp or have not installed it on the C drive.

edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:14

Alive to die - Anant

70,531
10
51
98

answered Sep 01 '17 at 07:22

Progga Ilma

578
6
8

score 14 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:14

14

Set "C:\xampp\php" in your PATH Environment Variable. Then restart CMD prompt.

edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:14

Alive to die - Anant

70,531
10
51
98

answered Jul 08 '15 at 11:37

Vikas

267
2
10

BEST & SIMPLE ANSWER – Muhammad Ali Sep 24 '21 at 07:42

score 8 · Answer 5 · edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:13

8

You need to add C:\xampp\php to your PATH Environment Variable, Only after then you would be able to execute php command line from outside php_home.

edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:13

Alive to die - Anant

70,531
10
51
98

answered Jul 08 '15 at 11:31

Raja

851
9
22

score 6 · Answer 6 · edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:13

6

Is your path correctly configured?

In Windows, you can do that as described here:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm

edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:13

Alive to die - Anant

70,531
10
51
98

answered Jul 08 '15 at 11:31

user5093637

61
3

score 5 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 04 '22 at 13:43

For Laragon:

First, download your PHP from [https://windows.php.net/download/] then unzip your file -> copy folder -> paste this direction:

C:\laragon\bin\php`Your folder`

search from windows

Edit the system environment variables and then open it.

Click Environment variables...

Click path and Edit

Click New and add the php.exe path like: C:\laragon\bin\php`Your folder`

and then press OK for all steps.

restart laragon and vscode

and our problem is already solved.

Abubakr Elghazawy · Answer 8 · 2018-11-25T08:48:07.670

Here what I DO on MY PC I install all software that i usually used in G: partian not C: if my operating system is fall (win 10) , Do not need to reinstall them again and lost time , Then How windows work it update PATH automatic if you install any new programe or pice of softwore ,

SO

I must update PATH like these HERE! all my software i usually used

%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;G:\HashiCorp\Vagrant\bin;G:\xampp\php;G:\xampp\mysql\bin;G:\Program Files (x86)\heroku\bin;G:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin;G:\Program Files (x86)\composer;G:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs;G:\Program Files (x86)\Sublime Text 3;G:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft VS Code\bin;G:\Program Files (x86)\cygwin64\bin

score 3 · Answer 9 · edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:13

3

I also got the following error when I run a command with PHP, I did the solution like that:

From the desktop, right-click the Computer icon.
Choose Properties from the context menu.
Click the Advanced system settings link.
Click Environment Variables. In the section System Variables, find the PATH environment variable and select it. Click Edit. If the PATH environment variable does not exist, click New.
In the Edit System Variable window, Add C:\xampp\php to your PATH Environment Variable.

Very important note: restart command prompt

edited Dec 18 '18 at 07:13

Alive to die - Anant

70,531
10
51
98

answered Mar 19 '18 at 10:24

Udhav Sarvaiya

9,380
13
53
64

This error occurs when you try to use by command. With the given solution, your environment variable path will be corrected, But if you do not close the command prompt after changing the path, then old path will work only. if you have not restarted your command prompt then the changes will not be reflected. After changing the environment variable path, close the command prompt (If the command prompt was open before making changes) and reuse the command prompt for further use. – Udhav Sarvaiya Oct 29 '18 at 05:44

score 3 · Answer 10 · answered Feb 06 '21 at 12:15

3

Extra info:

If you are using PhpStorm as IDE, after updating the path variable you need to restart PhpStorm so that it takes effect.

Restarting terminal window was not enough for me. (PhpStorm 2020.3.2)

answered Feb 06 '21 at 12:15

Adem Tepe

564
5
10

Abid Ali · Answer 11 · 2022-02-06T15:51:50.700

3

In latest Xampp 8.1.2 PHP path is changed to this below: Set it in your PATH variable.

C:\xampp\php\windowsXamppPhp

Don't forget to restart the PowerShell and run as Administrator.

edited Feb 06 '22 at 15:51

answered Feb 06 '22 at 15:44

Abid Ali

679
7
10

The above did not help me, but your solution works like a charm. I am using php 8.1 – Hadayat Niazi Jun 17 '22 at 10:32

score 2 · Answer 12 · edited Feb 04 '22 at 06:47

I have to face the same problem which I solved by adding the path of XAMP/WAMP to PATH environment variable.

Follow these steps:

Go to System Properties
Go to Advanced
Go to Environmental Variables
Edit the Path environment variable
Add the installation path of xammp/wamp like in my case the path is E:\xammp\php
Click on Ok
Restart command prompt (cmd)
Check the version of PHP by running php --version.

score 2 · Answer 13 · answered Aug 07 '21 at 14:37

2

I faced this issue even with a properly set up windows environment variable. I just needed to close and restart the terminal to solve it.

answered Aug 07 '21 at 14:37

S6rra

61
2

It's needed only when you updated PATH with already opened terminal. In that case of course you need to restart the terminal. – Max Aug 08 '21 at 10:31

score 2 · Answer 14 · answered Oct 22 '21 at 18:23

The previous answers about adding the path to the Env Var are correct, but my case was different.

I needed to downgrade my PHP version to 5 in order to update an old application.

I was using the following combination: MAMP, PhpStorm, the Environment Variable Path was set properly to the MAMP PHP version that I was using

The error was showing in PhpStorm's Terminal
The error was due to the php.ini file using # in the comment
After I replaced "#" by ";" I restarted PhpStorm and recognized the PHP version and the command "php -v" worked again

score 2 · Answer 15 · answered Feb 03 '22 at 08:10

2

In my case the problem was in the path, I was giving the path to the php.exe and that's wrong I have to write the path of the root folder...

answered Feb 03 '22 at 08:10

Sarout

821
4
25

score 1 · Answer 16 · answered Feb 01 '22 at 10:29

Laragon users

you will find your PHP folder in the bin folder of laragon. goto your desired PHP version folder and copy the location. for me it was:

C:\laragon\bin\php\php-7.4.19-Win32-vc15-x64

Add that location on your system PATH:

After that, you need to restart your cmd or terminal.

score 0 · Answer 17 · answered Dec 01 '22 at 17:00

0

I restarted CMD program it solves my problem

answered Dec 01 '22 at 17:00

PHPFan

756
3
12
46

This is the same solution as in [this other answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/68693333/2227743). – Eric Aya Dec 02 '22 at 00:37
Yes but answer doesn't involve setting environment variable and it simpler – PHPFan Dec 02 '22 at 04:43

PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command in command prompt

17 Answers17

Linked

Related