'go' is not recognized as an internal or external command

# 'go' is not recognized as an internal or external command

The error "'go' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file" occurs for 2 main reasons:

1. Not having Go installed on your machine.
2. Not having the path to the go executable in your system's PATH environment variable.

To install and configure Go:

1. Visit the official Downloads Page and click on the "Download Go for Windows" button.

2. When you start the installer, you might have to change your app recommendation settings.

3. You can set the "Choose where to get apps" value to "Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store".

3. Click on "Install anyway".

4. Click the "Next" button on the Welcome screen.

5. Tick the checkbox to accept the license agreement and click "Next".

6. Leave the default destination folder selected and click "Next".

7. Click on the "Install" button.

8. Wait for the installation to complete and click "Finish".

In a new Command Prompt, issue the go version command to make sure go is installed and in your PATH.

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go version

If you still get the error that "'go' is not recognized as an internal or external command", you have to add the path to the go executable to your system's PATH environment variable.

The default location of the go.exe file is in the following directory.

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C:\Program Files\Go\bin

# 👇️ Might also be under Program Files (x86)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Go\bin

# Add the path to the go executable in your system's PATH environment variable

To add the path to the go executable in your system's PATH environment variable:

1. Click on the Search bar and type "environment variables".
2. Click on "Edit the system environment variables".

3. Click on the "Environment Variables" button.

4. In the "System variables" section, select the "Path" variable and click "Edit".

5. You can either click "New" and then "Browse" and navigate to the path or paste it directly.

The path on my machine is the following:

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C:\Program Files\Go\bin

# 👇️ might also be under Program Files (x86)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Go\bin

If you can't find the PATH, try issuing the where go command.

We are looking for the directory that contains the go.exe file because this is the file that is run when you issue go commands.

6. Once you find the path to your go executable file, add it and click on the "OK" button twice to confirm.

7. Close your Command prompt application and then reopen it.

You might also have to restart your PC, but that's not always necessary.

In a new Command Prompt, issue the go version command to make sure go is installed and in your PATH.

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go version

After the path to the executable (go.exe) has been added to your system's PATH environment variable, the go command should work.

If the error persists, try restarting your PC to make sure you don't have any stale CMD, PowerShell or IDE sessions and rerun the go version command.

# Conclusion

The solve the error "'go' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file", make sure:

1. You have Go installed on your machine.
2. You have the path to the go executable in your system's PATH environment variable.