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fish_add_path(1)

fish_add_path - add to the path

FISH_ADD_PATH(1) fish-shell FISH_ADD_PATH(1)

fish_add_path - add to the path

fish_add_path path ...
fish_add_path [(-g | --global) | (-U | --universal) | (-P | --path)] [(-m | --move)] [(-a | --append) | (-p | --prepend)] [(-v | --verbose) | (-n | --dry-run)] PATHS ...

fish_add_path is a simple way to add more directories to fish's PATH <#envvar-PATH>. It does this by adding the directories either to fish_user_paths <#envvar-fish_user_paths> or directly to PATH <#envvar-PATH> (if the --path switch is given).

It is (by default) safe to use fish_add_path in config.fish, or it can be used once, interactively, and the paths will stay in future because of universal variables <#variables-universal>. This is a "do what I mean" style command - it tries to do the right thing by default, and follow your lead on what you have already set up (e.g. by using a global fish_user_paths <#envvar-fish_user_paths> if you have that already). If you need more control, consider modifying the variable yourself.

Directories are normalized with realpath <>. Trailing slashes are ignored and relative paths are made absolute (but symlinks are not resolved). If a directory is already included, it is not added again and stays in the same place unless the --move switch is given.

Directories are added in the order they are given, and they are prepended to the path unless --append is given. If $fish_user_paths is used, that means they are last in $fish_user_paths, which is itself prepended to PATH <#envvar-PATH>, so they still stay ahead of the system paths. If the --path option is used, the paths are appended/prepended to PATH <#envvar-PATH> directly, so this doesn't happen.

With --path, because PATH <#envvar-PATH> must be a global variable instead of a universal one, the changes won't persist, so those calls need to be stored in config.fish <#configuration>. This also applies to fish_user_paths <#envvar-fish_user_paths> if you make it global (for instance by passing --global).

If no directory is new, the variable (fish_user_paths <#envvar-fish_user_paths> or PATH <#envvar-PATH>) is not set again or otherwise modified, so variable handlers are not triggered.

If an argument is not an existing directory, fish_add_path ignores it.

Add directories to the end of the variable.
Add directories to the front of the variable (this is the default).
Use a global fish_user_paths <#envvar-fish_user_paths>.
Use a universal fish_user_paths <#envvar-fish_user_paths> - this is the default if it doesn't already exist.
Manipulate PATH <#envvar-PATH> directly.
Move already-included directories to the place they would be added - by default they would be left in place and not added again.
Print the set <> command used, and some more warnings, like when a path is skipped because it doesn't exist or is not a directory. Verbose mode is automatically enabled when fish_add_path is used interactively and the output goes to the terminal.
Print the set command that would be used without executing it.
Displays help about using this command.

If --move is used, it may of course lead to the path swapping order, so you should be careful doing that in config.fish.

# I just installed mycoolthing and need to add it to the path to use it.
# It is at /opt/mycoolthing/bin/mycoolthing,
# so let's add the directory: /opt/mycoolthing/bin.
> fish_add_path /opt/mycoolthing/bin
# I want my ~/.local/bin to be checked first,
# even if it was already added.
> fish_add_path -m ~/.local/bin
# I prefer using a global fish_user_paths
# This isn't saved automatically, I need to add this to config.fish
# if I want it to stay.
> fish_add_path -g ~/.local/bin ~/.otherbin /usr/local/sbin
# I want to append to the entire $PATH because this directory contains fallbacks
# This needs --path/-P because otherwise it appends to $fish_user_paths,
# which is added to the front of $PATH.
> fish_add_path --append --path /opt/fallback/bin
# I want to add the bin/ directory of my current $PWD (say /home/nemo/)
# -v/--verbose shows what fish_add_path did.
> fish_add_path -v bin/
set fish_user_paths /home/nemo/bin /usr/bin /home/nemo/.local/bin
# I have installed ruby via homebrew
> fish_add_path /usr/local/opt/ruby/bin


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October 15, 2026 4.9

fish 4.9.3-r3 · os · ingested 2026-10-16