Can the environment variables tool in Windows be launched directly?

Question

Is there a more direct way to the environmental variables GUI than the following?

Right click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties'.
Click 'Advanced System Settings' link.
Click 'Advanced' tab.
Click 'Environment Variables...' button.

Can I make a shortcut to it?

You can always use "set" (without the quotes) from a command prompt to display, set, or remove environment variables. It doesn't get any more direct than that. — joeqwerty, Jan 18 '12 at 18:19
Using the set command will only alter the copy of the environment local to the current command shell. The environment variables in the GUI will hold for all new shells and environments. — Steve Hollasch, Apr 11 '18 at 00:18
Isn't there a shell: shortcut, like for, for example, the Recycle Bin? — Peter Mortensen, Dec 29 '22 at 16:59

score 100 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 29 '22 at 16:47

100

Starting with Windows Vista, the panel can be displayed from the command line (cmd.exe) with a

rundll32 sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables

It is from here.

edited Dec 29 '22 at 16:47

Peter Mortensen

2,318

answered Jan 18 '12 at 18:02

yrk

2,567

1

beautiful! down with the mouse! – chris Oct 06 '17 at 10:45
1

Even better: run it from PowerShell! – Nick Spreitzer Feb 07 '19 at 20:43
1

If you want to open the Windows Environment Variables dialog from a launcher application such as SlickRun, you can enter cmd as the command, and /c "start rundll32 sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables" as the parameters. This will open cmd.exe, open the Environment Variables dialog, and immediately close the cmd.exe window that was just opened. I have this mapped to the env keyword in SlickRun, so I can quickly view Windows environment variables using the standard Unix env command. (And I have SlickRun run this as admin so I can edit system-level environment variables.) – Mark McClelland Jun 19 '19 at 18:58
Windows10 Update: If you want to run this command in Windows 10 the syntax has changed just a bit: rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables (courtesy of this site ) – Sep 02 '22 at 17:28

score 12 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 29 '22 at 16:50

12

I recommend this: Open the "Run" prompt → type "SystemPropertiesAdvanced". You will be on the Advanced tab of the System Properties window. From here it's easy. I feel this is an easier command to remember than the command prompt's and a good shortcut.

Windows 7: Start menu → in the search bar, type "system variables" and Enter. You will have the Advanced tab of the system properties window open.

Windows 8 and later: Simply type the above in the search box in the task bar.

edited Dec 29 '22 at 16:50

Peter Mortensen

2,318

answered Jun 19 '16 at 08:27

Shiridish

233

3

This required Admin access on a peer's computer. The accepted answer did not. – Mike Oct 10 '17 at 14:05
1

It should be the Accepted Answer. – sirajalam049 Mar 14 '18 at 04:20
2

If your logged in account is an Administrator account, you won't have the UAC prompt with this method (on Win 10 20H2). The "rundll32 sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables" method won't let you change the system environment variables unless you run it as Administrator which shows an UAC prompt. But you arrive directly on the right window. – Gabriel Hautclocq Feb 17 '21 at 10:43

score 5 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 29 '22 at 16:52

5

Open Notepad, copy the below line, and save it as "SysPropAdv.bat". Run in a cmd prompt. It will open a system properties window.

start SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe

edited Dec 29 '22 at 16:52

Peter Mortensen

2,318

answered Feb 15 '17 at 10:33

Suresh T V

51

that is also good but not the great to reached till environment variable . thanks – Indrajeet Gour Mar 07 '17 at 18:35
5

or in a different way use -> window + r -> and type SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe -> and just enter, making .bat and finding to file and double click may not be the efficient way. – Indrajeet Gour Mar 07 '17 at 18:37

score 3 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 29 '22 at 16:54

3

If you want to do it with an administrator's rights (to be able to edit the System Variables):

from the "Run" command prompt, use:

powershell -command "&{start-process rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables -verb RunAs}

from the cmd shell, use:

start powershell -command "&{start-process rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables -verb RunAs}"

edited Dec 29 '22 at 16:54

Peter Mortensen

2,318

answered Feb 17 '20 at 09:51

kotchwane

131

1

On Windows 10 20H2, the SystemPropertiesAdvanced method does not prompt for administrator privileges if your account is an Administrator. – Gabriel Hautclocq Feb 17 '21 at 10:40
You can also add -WindowStyle hidden before -command to minimize the powershell window. – MagTun Nov 13 '22 at 17:36

Can the environment variables tool in Windows be launched directly?

4 Answers4