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Asked: 2024-09-22T12:29:29+05:30 In:

How can I permanently modify the PATH environment variable on macOS so that changes remain even after a restart? What steps should I take to ensure that my custom paths are saved and applied every time I open a new terminal session?

Hey everyone! I’ve been trying to figure out how to permanently modify the PATH environment variable on my Mac. Every time I restart or open a new terminal session, my changes seem to disappear. It’s super frustrating because I need the custom paths for my development tools to be applied automatically.

Can anyone share what steps I need to take to ensure that my modifications are saved and consistently applied each time I open a terminal? Is there a specific file I need to edit, or a particular command I should use? Any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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    2 Answers






    1. Modify PATH on Mac

      To permanently modify the PATH environment variable on your Mac, you’ll want to edit your shell’s configuration file. For example, if you are using the default zsh shell (as of macOS Catalina), you should edit the .zshrc file located in your home directory. You can open this file in a text editor like nano or vim by running nano ~/.zshrc in your terminal. Once the file is open, you can add a line to set the PATH variable, like this: export PATH="/your/custom/path:$PATH". This line adds your custom path at the beginning of the existing PATH variable.

      After making your changes, save the file and exit the editor. For the changes to take effect, you can either restart your terminal or run source ~/.zshrc to refresh the current session. If you’re using bash instead of zsh, you’d want to make similar edits to the .bash_profile or .bashrc file. Remember, modifications made this way will persist across restarts and new terminal sessions, ensuring your development tools are always accessible.







    2. Modify PATH Environment Variable on Mac

      How to Permanently Modify the PATH Environment Variable on Mac

      Hey there!

      I understand your frustration with trying to keep your custom PATH settings persistent. Here’s a simple way to do that:

      1. Open your terminal.
      2. You’ll need to edit a configuration file. The file you choose depends on your shell. Most likely, you’ll be using bash or zsh.
      3. If you’re using bash, you can edit the file ~/.bash_profile:
        4. nano ~/.bash_profile
      4. If you’re using zsh (the default since macOS Catalina), edit ~/.zshrc:
        5. nano ~/.zshrc
      5. Once you have the file open, add the following line at the end:
        6. export PATH="$PATH:/your/custom/path"
      6. Replace /your/custom/path with the actual paths you want to add.
      7. Save the file by pressing CTRL + X, then Y, and hit Enter to confirm.
      8. Finally, you need to apply the changes. You can do that by either restarting the terminal or running:
        9. source ~/.bash_profile

        or

        source ~/.zshrc

      That’s it! Your new PATH should now be set every time you open a new terminal session.

      Hope this helps you get back to coding without any hassles!


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