This is a step-by-step alternative to running the :doc:`ESP-IDF Tools Installer <windows-setup>` for the CMake-based build system. Installing all of the tools by hand allows more control over the process, and also provides the information for advanced users to customize the install.
The GNU Make based build system requires the MSYS2_ Unix compatibility environment on Windows. The CMake-based build system does not require this environment.
Previous versions of ESP-IDF used the **MSYS2 bash terminal** command line. The current cmake-based build system can run in the regular **Windows Command Prompt** which is used here.
When the installer asks for Install Options, choose either "Add CMake to the system PATH for all users" or "Add CMake to the system PATH for the current user".
Ninja currently only provides binaries for 64-bit Windows. It is possible to use CMake and ``idf.py`` with other build tools, such as mingw-make, on 32-bit windows. However this is currently undocumented.
The Ninja for Windows download is a .zip file containing a single ``ninja.exe`` file which needs to be unzipped to a directory which is then :ref:`added to your Path <add-directory-windows-path>` (or you can choose a directory which is already on your Path).
The "Customise" step of the Python installer gives a list of options. The last option is "Add python.exe to Path". Change this option to select "Will be installed".
Unzip the zip file to ``C:\Program Files`` (or some other location). The zip file contains a single directory ``xtensa-{IDF_TARGET_TOOLCHAIN_NAME}-elf``.
Next, the ``bin`` subdirectory of this directory must be :ref:`added to your Path <add-directory-windows-path>`. For example, the directory to add may be ``C:\Program Files\xtensa-{IDF_TARGET_TOOLCHAIN_NAME}-elf\bin``.
If you already have the MSYS2 environment (for use with the "GNU Make" build system) installed, you can skip the separate download and add the directory ``C:\msys32\opt\xtensa-{IDF_TARGET_TOOLCHAIN_NAME}-elf\bin`` to the Path instead, as the toolchain is included in the MSYS2 environment.
Double-click the ``Path`` variable (either User or System Path, depending if you want other users to have this directory on their path.) Go to the end of the value, and append ``;<new value>``.
