The new Windows 11 feature helps users save time in Command Prompt

Microsoft is making it easier to modify a computer’s environment variables on Windows 11 and Windows 10, which can help users save time in the Command Prompt. For those of you who don’t know, environment variables are a powerful tool to set the location of directories important to the operating system, such as applications or functions, such as the Temp folder. It can also set path variables, such as the folder where the executable is located, so you can easily run commands in the terminal.

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For example, if you enter “MSPaint” in the command prompt, it will start immediately, but if you enter a third-party application such as “MPV” or “Chrome”, an error message will appear stating that the “MPV” command does not is “identified as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file”.

This is because native apps like Notepad or Paint are already defined in the path, but apps like Chrome or MPV Player don’t. You can easily define paths for any application using the Environment Variables tool, but the tool is not really friendly and the user needs to define variables for individual user accounts.

If you’re familiar with your PC’s environment variable capabilities, you can easily save time in the command prompt when you need to run an application or some script.

Microsoft has admitted that the “readability” of the environment variables page is very limited, and understanding things like paths or specifying folders can be difficult for beginners.

The company wants to display paths in a more consumable way, allow items to be inserted like a list, and help you easily define paths to run executables. A new PowerToys tool “Environment Manager” can make managing environment variables easier.

“We’re working on how to improve the environment variables. We have some ideas but would like your input/ideas/ideas. One idea is to show the calculated final value if the item is in the system and in the user,” said one Microsoft developer pointed out in a post on Github.

As you can see in the mock screenshot above, using PowerToys creates environment variables in exactly the same way as they currently do. For example, the user needs to click the “Add” button to give the variable a name and value.

You can also add multiple values, the user still needs to follow the tool’s principles, such as values ​​must be separated by semicolons. Once you have created your variables, click “OK” to apply the changes.

Microsoft is still working on the feature, and we don’t know when it will start rolling out to users.

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