[macos] Setting PATH environment variable in OSX permanently

I have read several answers on how to set environmental variables on OSX as permanently.

First, I tried this, How to permanently set $PATH on Linux/Unix? but I had an error message saying no such file and directory, so I thought I could try ~/.bash_profile instead of ~/.profile but it did not work.

Second, I found this solution How to set the $PATH as used by applications in os x , which advices to make changes in

~/.MacOSX/environment.plist

but again I had no such file and directory error.

I need a way to set these variables such that it won't require to set them again and again each time I open a new terminal session.

For setting up path in Mac two methods can be followed.

1. Creating a file for variable name and paste the path there under /etc/paths.d and source the file to profile_bashrc.

2. Export path variable in ~/.profile_bashrc as

   export VARIABLE_NAME = $(PATH_VALUE)

AND source the the path. Its simple and stable.

You can set any path variable by Mac terminal or in linux also.

If you are using zsh do the following.

1. Open .zshrc file nano $HOME/.zshrc

2. You will see the commented $PATH variable here

   # If you come from bash you might have to change your $PATH.
# export PATH=$HOME/bin:/usr/local/...

3. Remove the comment symbol(#) and append your new path using a separator(:) like this.

export PATH=$HOME/bin:/usr/local/bin:/Users/ebin/Documents/Softwares/mongoDB/bin:$PATH

4. Activate the change source $HOME/.zshrc

You're done !!!

I've found that there are some files that may affect the $PATH variable in macOS (works for me, 10.11 El Capitan), listed below:

1. As the top voted answer said, vi /etc/paths, which is recommended from my point of view.

2. Also don't forget the /etc/paths.d directory, which contains files may affect the $PATH variable, set the git and mono-command path in my case. You can ls -l /etc/paths.d to list items and rm /etc/paths.d/path_you_dislike to remove items.

3. If you're using a "bash" environment (the default Terminal.app, for example), you should check out ~/.bash_profile or ~/.bashrc. There may be not that file yet, but these two files have effects on the $PATH.

4. If you're using a "zsh" environment (Oh-My-Zsh, for example), you should check out ~./zshrc instead of ~/.bash* thing.

And don't forget to restart all the terminal windows, then echo $PATH. The $PATH string will be PATH_SET_IN_3&4:PATH_SET_IN_1:PATH_SET_IN_2.

Noticed that the first two ways (/etc/paths and /etc/path.d) is in / directory which will affect all the accounts in your computer while the last two ways (~/.bash* or ~/.zsh*) is in ~/ directory (aka, /Users/yourusername/) which will only affect your account settings.

Read more: Mac OS X: Set / Change $PATH Variable - nixCraft

For a new path to be added to PATH environment variable in MacOS just create a new file under /etc/paths.d directory and add write path to be set in the file. Restart the terminal. You can check with echo $PATH at the prompt to confirm if the path was added to the environment variable.

For example: to add a new path /usr/local/sbin to the PATH variable:

cd /etc/paths.d
sudo vi newfile

Add the path to the newfile and save it.

Restart the terminal and type echo $PATH to confirm

You could also add this

if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then
    . ~/.bashrc
fi

to ~/.bash_profile, then create ~/.bashrc where you can just add more paths to PATH. An example with .

export PATH=$PATH:.

You can open any of the following files:

/etc/profile
~/.bash_profile
~/.bash_login   (if .bash_profile does not exist)
~/.profile      (if .bash_login does not exist)

And add:

export PATH="$PATH:your/new/path/here"