Curl is pretty awesome for grabbing web data, uploading files, or just testing APIs from the command line. If it’s not installed or configured right on Windows 10, trying to run it can feel like hitting a brick wall—nothing happens, or you get errors. Sometimes, people download the ZIP, extract it, but forget to add that folder to the system’s PATH, so the command just fails every time. Other times, they don’t realize they need to give it a proper environment setup or run CMD as admin. Whatever the reason, getting Curl working isn’t super complicated once you know where to look. This guide walks through the actual steps, with tips that help avoid common pitfalls—or at least give you a clue why it’s not working. Basically, after all this, you’ll be able to call curl from any command prompt, no matter which directory you’re in, making your life a tad easier when dealing with web stuff or automating tasks.
How to Fix Curl Not Working on Windows 10
Make sure Curl is downloaded and in your system
If you just downloaded the ZIP from the official site, check that you actually extracted it somewhere accessible. Some folks extract to Desktop or Downloads, but forget to move it anywhere. The key is that Windows doesn’t automatically recognize the folder, so when you try to run curl it doesn’t find it unless it’s in a directory listed in the system’s PATH.
Pro tip: On some setups, the extraction might seem fine but the CLI still throws a “command not found” error. So, double check the folder actually contains curl.exe.
Update your PATH environment variable correctly
This is usually where things go sideways. To run curl from anywhere, you have to tell Windows where to find it. Head over to Settings > System > About, then click on Advanced system settings. In the popup, hit Environment Variables…. Under System variables, find Path and click Edit. Add the full path to the folder containing curl.exe — like C:\Tools\Curl. Save everything, close all windows.
On some Windows builds, you might need to restart your terminal or even reboot for the changes to take effect. It’s kind of weird, but after that, trying curl --version again should show the version info, letting you know it’s ready to roll.
Verify the setup and troubleshoot
Open a new command prompt window and type curl --version. If it spits out the version info, yay—it’s working. If not, double-check if you added the right folder path, or whether you need to run Cmd as administrator. Sometimes, Windows just doesn’t refresh environment variables immediately, especially with already open terminals.
Another thing to keep in mind: if you’re on PowerShell, use curl --version too—PowerShell has its own quirks sometimes, but generally it should work as expected.
Sometimes, on certain setups, even with everything correct, Curl fails. In those cases, re-download the ZIP, extract again, and re-update the PATH. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Tips for Making It Work More Smoothly
- Always use the latest official download — no sketchy sources.
- Place the extracted files somewhere stable, like C:\Tools\Curl.
- Make sure to run the Command Prompt or PowerShell after updating PATH (close and reopen).
- If curl commands seem inconsistent, try running with a full path for the first test, like
C:\Tools\Curl\curl.exe --version. - Keeping curl updated can save you headaches down the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if calling curl says “not recognized as an internal or external command”?
This usually means your PATH isn’t set right or didn’t refresh. Double-check the environment variable, restart your terminal, and verify with curl --version.
Can I use curl with scripts on Windows?
Yep, it’s perfect for scripting. Just make sure your scripts run in a prompt where curl is accessible. Otherwise, use the full path.
Is it safe to download curl from the official website?
Definitely. Just avoid third-party sources. The official site is the best place, and it’s regularly updated with security fixes.
Summary
- Download the ZIP from the official site.
- Extract it somewhere easy to find, like C:\Tools\Curl.
- Edit system environment variables, and add that folder to Path.
- Reopen Command Prompt or PowerShell and run
curl --version.
Wrap-up
Getting Curl set up on Windows 10 can be a bit frustrating if you’re not familiar with environment variables, but once it’s configured, it’s a game changer for command-line data transfer. On some machines, it takes a reboot or a terminal restart to get everything synced, but after that, it just works. Hopefully, this saves some time for someone who’s been banging their head against the wall trying to get it going. Just remember, always check your PATH and restart your session if it’s not behaving right. Fingers crossed this helps—and happy data transferring!