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environment-variables.md

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title PowerToys Environment Variables for Windows - Manage Variables
description Manage Windows environment variables efficiently with PowerToys Environment Variables utility. Create profiles, edit variables, and streamline your development workflow.
ms.date 08/20/2025
ms.topic concept-article
no-loc
PowerToys
Windows
Environment Variables
Win

Environment Variables

PowerToys Environment Variables offers an easy and convenient way to manage Windows environment variables. This utility allows you to create profiles for managing a set of variables together, streamlining your development workflow. Profile variables have precedence over User and System variables.

Applying the profile adds variables to User environment variables in the background. When a profile is applied, if there is an existing User variable with the same name, a backup variable is created in User variables which will be reverted to the original value on profile un-apply. The Applied variables list shows the current state of the environment, respecting the order of evaluation of environment variables (Profile > User > System). The Evaluated Path variable value is shown at the top of the list.

:::image type="content" source="../images/powertoys-environment-variables.png" alt-text="Screenshot of PowerToys Environment Variables interface showing profile management and variable lists.":::

Edit/Remove variable

To edit or remove a variable (profile, User or System), select the more button (•••) on the desired variable:

:::image type="content" source="../images/powertoys-environment-variables-edit-variable.gif" alt-text="Screenshot of editing and removing environment variables in PowerToys Environment Variables utility.":::

Add profile

To add a new profile:

  • Select New profile
  • Enter profile name
  • Set Enabled toggle to On to apply the profile right after creation
  • Select Add variable to add variables to profile (either new variable or existing User/System variables)
  • Select Save

:::image type="content" source="../images/powertoys-environment-variables-add-profile.gif" alt-text="Screenshot of creating a new profile in PowerToys Environment Variables with variable configuration.":::

To edit or remove a profile, select the more button (•••) on the desired profile.

Apply profile

To apply a profile, set the profile toggle to On. Only one profile can be applied at a time. The Applied variables list will show applied profile variables at the top (below Path variable):

:::image type="content" source="../images/powertoys-environment-variables-apply-profile.gif" alt-text="Screenshot of applying an environment variables profile in PowerToys showing toggle activation.":::

Settings

From the settings, the following options can be configured:

Setting Description
Open as administrator Allow management of System variables. If off, only profile and User variables can be modified. Environment Variables is opened as administrator by default.

[!INCLUDE install-powertoys.md]