How do you fix composer is not recognized as an internal or external command?

Last updated on April 21st, 2022 | 77 replies

In this guide we will install Composer and PHP on Windows 10 so that we can install dependencies for our web apps directly from Windows command line.

1. Download and Install Visual C++

In order to run PHP on Windows 10, you will need to install Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio. You can download it from the Windows Download page or click the direct link below.

• Download: VC_redist.x64.exe (64 bit) or VC_redist.x86.exe (32 bit)

Once downloaded, run the installer and click Install.

2. Download and Extract PHP

Go to the Windows PHP download page and download the .zip of the version of PHP you require. In this guide, we are installing PHP 7.4 VC15 x64 Non Thread Safe, which is the latest version as of writing (Jan 2020).

Once downloaded, create a new folder in c:\php7 (or wherever you prefer) and extract your PHP zip to it.

3. Download and Install Composer

• Download Composer-Setup.exe from the Composer Download page.

In the second step of Composer Setup, make sure the correct path to php.exe is set and click Next.

If Setup prompts to create php.ini, allow it and click Next.

Skip the Proxy URL settings, just click Next then click Install.

Click Finish once install is complete.

4. Test PHP

If you have any Command Prompt windows currently open, close them now.

Open Command Prompt, type php -v and press Enter. You should now see the PHP version.

If it returns a PHP version, you can skip to Step 6 to test Composer.

If you get an error “‘php’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.”, you may need to Add a Path Environment Variable.

5. Add Path Environment Variable

Composer setup usually does this for you, but if for whatever reason it didn’t, you can set one up manually.

So that you don’t have to type the whole path to php.exe every time you run a PHP command, you should add c:\php7 as a path environment variable.

Open System Properties by clicking the start menu and typing sysdm.cpl and press Enter.

In System Properties, click Environment Variables.

In System Variables, click Path and then click Edit.

Click New, type the path to your PHP folder (c:\php7) and click OK.

Close the System Properties dialogue by clicking OK.

6. Test Composer

Open up Command Prompt and type composer -V (that’s uppercase V).

If all was installed correctly, you should see a version number.

Hurrah! You can now run Composer and PHP on Windows 10.

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