Set environment variable in Windows and WSL Linux in terminal
Tags: windows10, wsl, programming
Published: 2020-04-21 17:30:50

---
title: Set environment variable in Windows and WSL Linux in terminal
published: true
date: 2020-04-21 00:00:00 UTC
tags: Windows10,wsl,Linux,Programming
cover_url: https://kapilgorve.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/blog/covers/wsl.jpg
canonical_url: https://www.jskap.com/blog/set-environment-variables-windows-wsl-linux/
---

!['cover'](https://kapilgorve.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/blog/covers/wsl.jpg)

## Windows set env variable from the command line[<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#Windows-set-env-variable-from-the-command-line)

- Open command line. `set API_KEY=123`
- `echo %API_KEY%` should print your `API_KEY`.
- This env variable is set for the context of the current cmd line.

## Windows set env variable permanently using the command line[<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#Windows-set-env-variable-permanently-using-the-command-line)

- Open the command line as admin. `setx API_KEY "123" /M`
- Close the current shell. Open a new shell.
- `echo %API_KEY%` should print your `API_KEY`.
- This env variable is set for all future shell instances permanently for your system.

## WSL Linux set env variable from a bash terminal[<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#WSL-Linux-set-env-variable-from-a-bash-terminal)

- Launch your wsl instance.
- `$ API_KEY=123`
- `$ echo $API_KEY` should print your `API_KEY`.

## WSL Linux set env variable permanently from a bash terminal[<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#WSL-Linux-set-env-variable-permanently-from-a-bash-terminal)

- Launch your wsl instance.
- `$ sudo vim ~/.bashrc`
- Enter your password.
- Press `i` to go into edit mode. Go to the end of the file using arrow key.
- Add your variable as `API_KEY=123` at the end of the file. If your variable has spaces, use quotes.Example - `API_KEY= 'My Key'`
- Press `esc` key to get out of edit mode.
- Enter `:wq` and press enter . This will save and close the file.
- `$ source ~/.bashrc` will load your recent changes into your current shell.
- `$ echo $API_KEY` should print your `API_KEY`.
  

This post was originally published at https://www.jskap.com/blog/set-environment-variables-windows-wsl-linux/

  

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