How to Download and Install MinGW C/C++ Compiler: A Step-by-Step Guide

MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows) is a popular compiler suite that allows you to compile C and C++ programs on Windows systems. Here’s a complete walkthrough to get you started:

‌Step 1: Download MinGW‌

1. ‌Visit the Official Website‌
   • Go to MinGW’s SourceForge page
   • Click the ‌Download‌ button to get the installer (mingw-get-setup.exe).
2. ‌Run the Installer‌
   • Open the downloaded .exe file.
   • Follow the setup wizard (default settings are fine).

‌Step 2: Install Required Packages‌

1. ‌Launch the MinGW Installation Manager‌
   • After installation, open ‌MinGW Installer‌.
2. ‌Select Essential Packages‌
   • Under ‌Basic Setup‌, check:
     • mingw32-base (C compiler)
     • mingw32-gcc-g++ (C++ compiler)
     • mingw32-gcc-objc (Objective-C, optional)
   • Right-click each and choose ‌Mark for Installation‌.
3. ‌Apply Changes‌
   • Go to ‌Installation → Apply Changes‌ and confirm.

‌Step 3: Add MinGW to System PATH‌

1. ‌Locate the Installation Directory‌
   • Typically at C:\MinGW\bin.
2. ‌Update PATH Environment Variable‌
   • Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and go to ‌Advanced → Environment Variables‌.
   • Under ‌System Variables‌, find PATH, click ‌Edit‌, and add: C:\MinGW\bin
   • Click ‌OK‌ to save.

‌Step 4: Verify Installation‌

1. ‌Open Command Prompt‌ (Win + R → cmd)
2. ‌Check GCC Version

gcc --version

gcc --version

If installed correctly, you’ll see version details.

Hello World!

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!");
    return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!");
    return 0;
}