1,182 views 
If you have encountered the error message “cURL is not an internal or external command” while using the command prompt or terminal, don’t worry. This error typically occurs when your operating system does not recognize the cURL program or is not installed correctly. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of resolving this error.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Checking the cURL Installation
- Adding cURL to System Path
- Verifying the Installation
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the error "cURL is not an internal or external command" mean?
- Why am I seeing the "cURL is not an internal or external command" error?
- How can I check if cURL is installed on my system?
- How can I fix the "cURL is not an internal or external command" error?
- What should I do after adding cURL to the system's PATH?
- What if I still experience issues with cURL after following the steps?
Introduction Introduction
cURL is a powerful command-line tool used for transferring data using various protocols. It is widely used in web development, API testing, and other network-related tasks. However, if you see the “cURL is not an internal or external command” error, it means the system cannot locate the cURL executable.
Checking the cURL Installation Checking the cURL Installation
Before proceeding with any fixes, let’s first check if cURL is installed on your system. Open your command prompt or terminal and type the following command:
curl --version
If cURL is installed, you should see the version information displayed. If not, you need to install cURL on your system.
Adding cURL to System Path Adding cURL to System Path
To fix the “cURL is not an internal or external command” error, you may need to add the cURL executable to your system’s PATH environment variable. Here’s how to do it:
- Locate the directory where cURL is installed. This is typically in
C:\Program Files\curlon Windows or/usr/bin/curlUnix-based systems. - Copy the path to the cURL directory.
- Open the System Properties window on your computer. This can usually be done by right-clicking on “Computer” or “This PC” and selecting “Properties,” or by searching for “System” in the Start menu.
- Click on the “Advanced system settings” or “Advanced” tab.
- Click on the “Environment Variables” button.
- In the “System variables” section, scroll down and find the “Path” variable.
- Select the “Path” variable and click on the “Edit” button.
- Click on the “New” button and paste the path to the cURL directory that you copied earlier.
- Click “OK” to save the changes.
Verifying the Installation Verifying the Installation
To ensure that cURL is now recognized as an internal or external command, you can close and reopen your command prompt or terminal and type the following command:
curl --version
If everything was set up correctly, you should now see the version information for cURL without encountering the “not an internal or external command” error.
Conclusion Conclusion
Following these steps, you should be able to fix the “cURL is not an internal or external command” error and use cURL seamlessly in your command prompt or terminal. Remember to double-check the cURL installation and ensure it is added to the system’s PATH environment variable.
If you continue to experience issues with cURL, please consult the official cURL documentation or seek further assistance from the community. Happy coding!
Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the “cURL is not an internal or external command” error:
What does the error “cURL is not an internal or external command” mean? What does the error “cURL is not an internal or external command” mean?
This error message typically occurs when the system cannot locate the cURL executable. It suggests that the cURL program is either not installed on the system or not recognized by the operating system.
Why am I seeing the “cURL is not an internal or external command” error? Why am I seeing the “cURL is not an internal or external command” error?
There are several possible reasons for this error:
1. cURL is not installed on your system.
2. The cURL executable is not added to the system’s PATH environment variable.
3. The cURL installation is corrupted or incomplete.
How can I check if cURL is installed on my system? How can I check if cURL is installed on my system?
To check if cURL is installed on your system, open your command prompt or terminal and type the following command:
curl --version
If cURL is installed, you should see the version information displayed. If not, you need to install cURL on your system.
How can I fix the “cURL is not an internal or external command” error? How can I fix the “cURL is not an internal or external command” error?
To fix this error, you may need to add the cURL executable to your system’s PATH environment variable.
Follow these steps:
1. Locate the directory where cURL is installed.
2. Copy the path to the cURL directory.
3. Open the System Properties window on your computer.
4. Click on the “Advanced system settings” or “Advanced” tab.
5. Click on the “Environment Variables” button.
6. In the “System variables” section, find the “Path” variable.
7. Select the “Path” variable and click on the “Edit” button.
8. Click on the “New” button and paste the path to the cURL directory.
9. Click “OK” to save the changes.
What should I do after adding cURL to the system’s PATH? What should I do after adding cURL to the system’s PATH?
After adding cURL to the system’s PATH, you should close and reopen your command prompt or terminal. Then, verify the installation by typing the following command:
curl --version
If everything was set up correctly, you should now see the version information for cURL without encountering the “not an internal or external command” error.
What if I still experience issues with cURL after following the steps? What if I still experience issues with cURL after following the steps?
If you continue to experience issues with cURL, it is recommended to consult the official cURL documentation or seek further assistance from the community. They can provide more specific troubleshooting steps based on your system configuration.
Remember, please refer to the official documentation or community support if you need further assistance.