Run c++ on windows using MinGW (2024)

2 min read

Nov 22, 2023

To run a C++ program on Windows, you’ll need a C++ compiler. One commonly used compiler for Windows is MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows), which includes the GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) toolchain. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you run a simple C++ program on Windows using MinGW:

Download MinGW:

Visit the MinGW website: MinGW — Minimalist GNU for Windows.
Look for the “Downloads” section and download the installer appropriate for your system (32-bit or 64-bit).

Run the Installer:

Execute the installer and follow the installation instructions.
During installation, you’ll be prompted to select components. Make sure to include the C++ compiler (usually named mingw32-gcc-g++).

Add MinGW to System Path (Optional but recommended):

After installation, add the MinGW bin directory to your system's PATH environment variable. This step allows you to run the compiler from any command prompt.
For example, if MinGW is installed in C:\MinGW, add C:\MinGW\bin to your PATH.

Save the file with a .cpp extension, such as hello.cpp.

Create a simple C++ program using a text editor. For example, open Notepad and enter the following code:

#include <iostream>int main() {
 std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;
 return 0;
}

Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell on your Windows system.

Navigate to the directory where you saved your C++ file using the cd command. For example:

cd path\to\your\directory

Compile the C++ program using the following command:

g++ hello.cpp -o hello.exe

This command uses the g++ compiler to compile your hello.cpp file into an executable named hello.exe.

Run the compiled program:

hello.exe

You should see the output “Hello, World!” printed on the screen.

That’s it! You’ve successfully compiled and run a simple C++ program on Windows using MinGW. Remember to adapt file paths and names as needed based on your specific setup.

FAQs

Run c++ on windows using MinGW? ›

To open a command prompt window, press Windows+R to open the Run dialog. Enter cmd.exe in the Open textbox, then choose OK to run a command prompt window. In the command prompt window, right-click to paste the path to your app into the command prompt. Press Enter to run your app.

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How to run C++ in Windows? ›

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Can I run C++ program in GCC compiler? ›

GCC recognizes files with these names and compiles them as C++ programs even if you call the compiler the same way as for compiling C programs (usually with the name gcc ). However, the use of gcc does not add the C++ library. g++ is a program that calls GCC and automatically specifies linking against the C++ library.

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Is MinGW required for Dev C++? ›

Dev-C++ internally uses MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows) Compiler. It can be used to code programs in C++ as well as C language. This article discusses how to download Dev-C++ and install it on your Windows computer.

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How to install MinGW for C++ in Windows 11? ›

Installing MinGW (or clang)

Go to this website and click either MinGW C/C++ For Windows 11 32/64 bit (for Windows 11) or MinGW C/C++ For Windows 10 32/64 bit (for Windows 10) ...
Run the downloaded file ( mingw.exe ). ...
Click 'Extract'. ...
In Windows search, type 'env' and click on 'Edit the system environment variables':

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How to run a C++ program from terminal? ›

To run the C++ program in your terminal, you need to make sure to change the directory to the one where your program resides, you can use the 'cd <File_Path>' command to change the path and to generate an executable file, the command, 'g++ File_Name. cpp -o FileName', is used.

What compiler to use for C++ Windows? ›

Use MSBuild with the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler or a 3rd party toolset like CMake with Clang or mingw to build and debug your code right in the IDE.

How to run a C++ file using MinGW? ›

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you run a simple C++ program on Windows using MinGW:

Step 1: Install MinGW. Download MinGW: ...
Step 2: Write a Simple C++ Program. Create a simple C++ program using a text editor. ...
Step 3: Open Command Prompt. ...
Step 4: Navigate to the Directory. ...
Step 5: Compile and Run the Program.

Nov 22, 2023

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Should I use GCC or G ++ for C++? ›

GCC and G++ are both used for compiling C and C++ languages. However, GCC is used for compiling C programs while G++ is used for compiling C++ programs. G++ automatically links files in the libraries of std C++ during object file linking, which does not happen with GCC.

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How to use GCC compiler in Windows? ›

How to Setup GCC Compiler for Windows

Step 1: Downloading MinGW-w64. ...
Step 2: Downloading Zip File. ...
Step 3: Extract and Install. ...
Step 4: Click Install. ...
Step 5: Installation Preferences. ...
Step 6: Downloading MinGW Installation Manager. ...
Step 7: Choose GNU Compilers. ...
Step 8: Apply Changes.

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Mar 26, 2024

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What is the difference between MinGW and GCC compiler? ›

GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) is a free and open source compiler for C and C++ (and other languages like Objective-C, Fortran, D). MinGW-w64 is a free and open source C library for targetting Windows 32-bit and 64-bit platforms. The combination of these results in a free C/C++ compiler for Windows.