How to Install Elixir on Windows 11

Elixir is a functional programming language, focused on concurrency and fault tolerance, that runs on the Erlang virtual machine. It is used to build robust and scalable web applications. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to install Elixir on Windows 11.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

  • A Windows 11 computer
  • Administrative privileges on your computer
  • A reliable internet connection

Step 1: Install Erlang

Elixir runs on the Erlang virtual machine, so the first step is to install Erlang. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Erlang OTP download page
  2. Under the Windows section, download the Erlang OTP installer for Windows
  3. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. The default settings are usually fine, but you can customize the install if necessary
  4. Once the installation is complete, open a command prompt and type erl to verify that Erlang is installed correctly

Step 2: Install Elixir

Once Erlang is installed, we can install Elixir. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Elixir download page

  2. Scroll down to the "Precompiled zip" section and download the ZIP file for your version of Windows (32-bit or 64-bit)

  3. Extract the ZIP file to a location of your choice. We recommend C:\Elixir\

  4. Add the bin directory of the Elixir installation to your PATH environment variable. To do this:

    1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
    2. Type sysdm.cpl and press Enter to open the System Properties window
    3. Click on the "Environment Variables" button
    4. Under "System Variables", select "Path" and click on the "Edit" button
    5. Click on the "New" button and add the path to the Elixir bin directory (e.g. C:\Elixir\bin\)
    6. Click on "OK" to close all windows

  5. Open a new command prompt and type elixir -v to verify that Elixir is installed correctly. You should see the version number printed in the console

Conclusion

Congratulations, you've successfully installed Elixir on Windows 11! You can now start coding in Elixir and building robust and scalable web applications. We hope this tutorial was helpful.