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In this guide you’ll learn how to install Terraform on a Windows machine. The official HashiCorp install page provides several options — package managers (winget, Chocolatey), platform package repositories, and manual binary downloads: https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/install. Choose the method that best fits your environment: manual install for precise control, or a package manager for streamlined updates.

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Quick comparison: installation methods

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1. Manual installation (download & add to PATH)

  1. Open the HashiCorp Terraform install page (https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/install) and select the Windows download that matches your CPU architecture (e.g., amd64 for 64-bit). Download the ZIP file.
A screenshot of the HashiCorp Terraform install webpage showing operating system options on the left and binary download cards (Windows, Linux) in the main area. The Windows AMD64 download option is highlighted with a cursor over the "Download" link.
  1. Open the ZIP file you downloaded. Inside you will find the terraform.exe binary. Extract it or copy it to a folder you control, for example C:\Terraform.
A Windows File Explorer window showing the contents of a downloaded zip file (terraform_1.12.2_windows_amd64.zip) with LICENSE.txt and terraform.exe listed, the terraform.exe entry highlighted. The left pane shows the Downloads folder selected.
  1. Create the folder (if it doesn’t exist) and copy terraform.exe into it:
A Windows File Explorer window open to the Local Disk (C:) terraform folder. It lists a single application file named "terraform.exe" with its date modified and file size.
  1. Add the folder to your system PATH so any terminal can run terraform:
  • Right-click the Start menu and choose System.
  • Click “Advanced system settings”.
  • Click the “Environment Variables…” button.
  • In the System variables section, find and edit Path.
  • Add a new entry C:\Terraform (or your chosen folder), then click OK to save.
A screenshot of a Windows 10 desktop showing the System Properties "Advanced" dialog open (Performance, User Profiles, Startup and Recovery) with an "Environment Variables" button. In the background the Settings window and Windows 10 Pro system info are visible.
If you already keep HashiCorp tools together (for example C:\hashicorp), you can add that folder to PATH and place terraform.exe there alongside other tools.
A Windows File Explorer window open to C:\hashicorp showing a list of HashiCorp executables (consul.exe, vault.exe, nomad.exe, packer.exe, waypoint.exe, etc.) with sizes and modified dates. The waypoint.exe file is highlighted.
After updating the PATH, restart your terminal (PowerShell, Command Prompt, or Windows Terminal) so the new PATH value is recognized.

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2. Verify the installation

Open a new PowerShell window and run:
Expected output (example):
Seeing the Terraform version confirms the binary is on PATH and runnable.

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3. Install using Windows package managers (automated)

If you prefer a one-line, automated install, use winget (recommended if available) or Chocolatey.
  • Install with winget:
A typical winget session:
After the install completes, close and re-open your terminal and run terraform version to confirm. You can uninstall with winget:
  • Install with Chocolatey:
Chocolatey will manage the binary and PATH updates for you.
Always select the correct architecture when downloading or installing (for example amd64 for 64-bit Windows). A mismatched binary will not run on your system.

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Which method should I use?

  • Use winget or Chocolatey for ease of install and automatic PATH handling.
  • Use manual download if you need to pin a specific version, keep binaries offline, or control the install directory.

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Next steps

Now that Terraform is installed:

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