editing PATH variable on mac

Question

How to edit PATH variable on mac (Lion). I cannot find any file where I can add paths. can someone guide me about it?

Whats the file name? .profile or .bash_profile???

and where I can find it? I have tried

echo 'export PATH=/android-sdk/tools:$PATH' >> ~/.profile

I have the same exact question! Will someone with the proper authority please move this to the Macintosh/Apple section so it can be opened? — SMBiggs, Jun 30 '18 at 16:23
I find this question very useful, but maybe you should ask it here: https://apple.stackexchange.com. — Timbergus, Mar 09 '21 at 08:18
Add this line to your ~/.zshrc file. export PATH=$PATH:. You can do this multiple times as you are appending the new path variable to the old one. — Anjan Talatam, Sep 05 '22 at 13:33

Ryan Allen · Answer 1 · 2021-11-30T16:01:59.737

233

Open and edit /etc/paths using any text editor.

$ sudo vi /etc/paths

(editing text files with vi)

Note: each entry is separated by a new line

/usr/local/bin
/usr/bin
/bin
/usr/sbin
/sbin

Save and close the file. Then restart your terminal.

edited Nov 30 '21 at 16:01

answered Apr 29 '13 at 21:42

Ryan Allen

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I had to open a new terminal to get this to work, not use one that was already open. – Alan P. Dec 30 '16 at 19:45
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sudo emacs /etc/paths :/ – Feb 15 '17 at 06:25
@SittingBull you're welcome to use whichever editor suits you :) – Ryan Allen Feb 17 '17 at 21:37
Works on a new tab of the Terminal after saving the `/etc/paths` file. Doesn't really require a restart of the Terminal. – Vishwas M.R May 05 '23 at 09:51
why does `$ sudo vi /etc/paths` give less output than `$ tr ':' '\n' <<<$PATH` ? – Aku Jun 16 '23 at 10:06

score 38 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

38

Based on my own experiences and internet search, I find these places work:

/etc/paths.d

~/.bash_profile

Note that you should open a new terminal window to see the changes.

You may also refer to this this question

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community

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answered Oct 31 '12 at 01:58

can.

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score 11 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 06 '22 at 23:13

11

You could try this:

Open the Terminal application. It can be found in the Utilities directory inside the Applications directory.

Type the following: echo 'export PATH=YOURPATHHERE:$PATH' >> ~/.profile, replacing "YOURPATHHERE" with the name of the directory you want to add. Make certain that you use ">>" instead of one ">".

Hit Enter.

Close the Terminal and reopen. Your new Terminal session should now use the new PATH.

Quoted from ketio.me tutorial (archived copy).

edited Jan 06 '22 at 23:13

zcoop98

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answered Oct 09 '11 at 11:03

Tobias

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Yes I have tried that command but it seems nothing happens after pressing enter, I restarted the terminal but still path is not added. – coure2011 Oct 09 '11 at 11:05

score 10 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 03 '17 at 14:09

10

environment.plst file loads first on MAC so put the path on it.

For 1st time use, use the following command

export PATH=$PATH: /path/to/set

edited Mar 03 '17 at 14:09

Peyman Mohamadpour

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answered Dec 28 '12 at 06:47

Jay Sampat

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put the same export command in "environment.plst" file to keep it permananet. – Jay Sampat Dec 28 '12 at 06:47
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Where is this file supposed to be located? – Kevin Suttle Apr 17 '18 at 15:53

score 5 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 03 '17 at 14:08

5

use

~/.bash_profile

or

~/.MacOSX/environment.plist

(see Runtime Configuration Guidelines)

edited Mar 03 '17 at 14:08

Peyman Mohamadpour

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answered Oct 11 '11 at 07:13

cody

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editing PATH variable on mac

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