Windows 10: Create Environment Variables Shortcut in Windows

How to: Create Environment Variables Shortcut in Windows

How to Create Environment Variables Shortcut in Windows


Environment variables are a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer. The variables can be used both in scripts and on the command line. Environment variables makes it easy when certain standard directories and parameters need to be referenced but where the actual locations or names can vary from computer to computer.

The variable (ex: "%UserProfile%") is used as a type of shortcut of the value (ex: "C:\Users\<username>").

There are two types of environment variables: user environment variables (set only for current user) and system environment variables (set for all users).

This tutorial will show you how to create or download an Environment Variables shortcut in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

*note To set new, edit, or delete system variables, you would need to use Run as administrator on the Environment Variables shortcut.

To set new, edit, or delete user variables, you can just open the Environment Variables shortcut.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Download an Environment Variables Shortcut
• Option Two: To Manually Create an Environment Variables Shortcut

EXAMPLE: Environment Variables











OPTION ONE [/i] To Download an Environment Variables Shortcut
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .zip file below.
Environment_Variables_shortcut.zip

Download
2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

3. Unblock the .zip file..

4. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the shortcut to your desktop.

5. You can assign a keyboard shortcut to, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file if you like.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Manually Create an Environment Variables Shortcut
1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area on your desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.

2. Copy and paste the location below into the location area, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables




3. Type Environment Variables for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)

*note You could name this shortcut anything you would like though.



4. Right click or press and hold on the new Environment Variables shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.

5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, and click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)



6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the location below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
%windir%\System32\sysdm.cpl




7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)

*note You could use any icon that you would like instead though.

8. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)



9. You can assign a keyboard shortcut to, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• Complete List of Environment Variables in Windows 10
• How to Set New User and System Environment Variables in Windows
• How to Edit User and System Environment Variables in Windows
• How to Delete User and System Environment Variables in Windows

:)

 

System environment variable won't stick


Running Win10 Home on an Acer Spin 3, 64bit, i7cpu. I try to add a path to the system environment variables by:

1. Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced tab > Environment variables

2. The "Environment Variables" window opens.
3. In the "System Variables" pane I select "Path" and click the EDIT button.
4. A list of the current system paths is displayed.
5. I click the NEW button, browse to the path I want to add which is "C:\Python36-32" and click OK. The path "C:\Python36-32" is added to the list of current system paths.
6. I click OK and am returned to the "Environment Variables" window.
7. I click the "X" at the top right to close the "Environment Variables" window.

Now if I click the "Environment Variables" button again (end of step-1) and repeat steps 2-4, the new path I added in step-5 is gone. IOW, adding a new path won't stick.

What am I doing wrong?

 

Searching environment variable in list

I'm using a command that gives me a list of environment variables. When searching in the list, I want to find all environment variables with the word
EXTERNAL; using the following command all that is occurring is all the environment variables are being listed instead of those environment variables with the word
EXTERNAL ?

findstr /c "EXTERNAL"

 

Environment Variable

Hi,

I accidentally deleted the entire environment variables on my windows 10 PC. Resetting the Pc is creating a lot of problems. The reset page would only load 47% and prompted me with a message "undoing changes." Is there a way someone can suggest to resolve
this problem?

 

Edit - Set Environment Variables

Recently I upgraded my Machine from Win 8 to Win 10, but I encountered many problems like virtual boxes related issues that does not create any problems prior to upgrading to Win 10.My mean concern as of now is I cant edit the system variable even I logged
as the admin of my machine.I would like to add Java Jdk but windows does not allow me to add the path to environment variables.

Is this a bug? Or what are the steps in order to edit environment variables in Windows 10 machine

Ian

 

System environment variable won't stick

Yes, there's an OK button for each step.