Before you start

Prerequisites

OS: Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit
Disk space: At least 2 GB free (Rust + MSVC tools)
Internet: Required during install — rustup downloads toolchain components
Privileges: Standard user account works; no administrator rights needed

Installation

Install Rust on Windows — step by step

1
Download rustup-init.exe
Get the installer from the download page or directly from win.rustup.rs. The file is about 8 MB.
2
Run and choose option 1

cmd.exe
C:\> rustup-init.exe
Welcome to Rust!
Current installation options:
default host triple: x86_64-pc-windows-msvc
default toolchain: stable
1) Proceed with standard installation (default)
2) Customize the installation
3) Cancel installation
> Press 1 then Enter
3
Wait for MSVC Build Tools
If Visual Studio Build Tools are not installed, rustup triggers their installer automatically. This downloads about 1.5 GB and takes 5–15 minutes. Do not close the window.
4
Open a new terminal and verify

PowerShell — new window
PS> rustc --version
rustc 1.79.0 (129f3b996 2024-06-10)
PS> cargo --version
cargo 1.79.0 (ffa9cf99a 2024-06-03)
PS> rustup show
Default host: x86_64-pc-windows-msvc
stable-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc (default)

PATH

Rust PATH on Windows

rustup adds Rust to your PATH automatically. Binaries are installed to:

Default locations

# Cargo binaries (cargo, rustc, rustup):

%USERPROFILE%\.cargo\bin

# Toolchain files:

%USERPROFILE%\.rustup\toolchains\

Open a new PowerShell or cmd window after install. The PATH change only affects new terminals, not ones already open.

Common install issues

Fix install errors

"error: linker link.exe not found"

MSVC Build Tools not installed or not on PATH

Re-run rustup-init.exe or install Visual Studio Build Tools manually

rustup-init.exe blocked by Windows Defender

SmartScreen flags unknown publisher

Click More info > Run anyway. The installer is signed by Mozilla.

"rustc" is not recognized after install

PATH not updated in current terminal

Open a new PowerShell window — PATH changes require a new session

FAQ

Install questions

How to install Rust on Windows without admin rights?

rustup installs per-user by default into %USERPROFILE%\.cargo and %USERPROFILE%\.rustup. No administrator rights are required for the Rust toolchain itself. The MSVC Build Tools installer, however, may require admin rights. If you cannot install Build Tools, use the GNU toolchain: during rustup setup choose option 2 (customize) and select x86_64-pc-windows-gnu instead.

How long does Rust installation take on Windows?

The rustup installer itself takes under a minute. If MSVC Build Tools are not installed, their installer downloads about 1.5 GB and takes 5–15 minutes depending on your internet speed. On subsequent installs or when Build Tools are already present, Rust installs in 1–2 minutes.

Can I install Rust on Windows without Visual Studio?

Yes, using the GNU toolchain. During rustup setup, choose Customize and select x86_64-pc-windows-gnu as the target. This requires installing MSYS2 and the mingw-w64-x86_64-gcc package. The MSVC toolchain is recommended for native Windows development and Windows API access.

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