Is there a way to set environment variables for a single command on Windows like ENVVAR=abc command on Unix?

Variables set by set command on Windows seem to remain for the following commands, but this is not what I want.

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1 Answer

Is there a way to set environment variables for a single command?

From the current cmd shell:

You have to clear the variable yourself.

set ENVVAR=abc && dir & set ENVVAR=

From a batch file:

You can use setlocal and endlocal.

@echo off setlocal set ENVVAR=abc && dir endlocal

Use a child cmd shell:

You can use cmd /c to create a child shell.

The variable is set in the child shell and doesn't affect the parent shell (as pointed out in a comment by jpmc26).

cmd /C "set ENVVAR=abc && dir"

Further Reading

  • An A-Z Index of the Windows CMD command line - An excellent reference for all things Windows cmd line related.
  • cmd - Start a new CMD shell and (optionally) run a command/executable program.
  • endlocal - End localisation of environment changes in a batch file. Pass variables from one batch file to another.
  • redirection - Redirection operators.
  • set - Display, set, or remove CMD environment variables. Changes made with SET will remain only for the duration of the current CMD session.
  • setlocal - Set options to control the visibility of environment variables in a batch file.
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