Rust is a modern programming language used to build fast, reliable, and memory-efficient software. Before you can start writing Rust programs, you need to install the Rust development tools on your computer.
The recommended way to install Rust is through rustup, the official Rust toolchain installer.
In this guide, you will learn how to install Rust on:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
You will also learn how to verify the installation, check Cargo, update Rust, fix common installation problems, and uninstall Rust if needed.
What Do You Need to Install Rust?
A standard Rust installation mainly gives you three important command-line tools:
rustc
rustc is the Rust compiler. It converts Rust source code into executable programs.
Check it with:
rustc --version
Cargo
Cargo is installed along with Rust when you use rustup. It is Rust’s package manager and build tool.
Check it with:
cargo --version
rustup
rustup manages your Rust installation and toolchain.
Check it with:
rustup --version
For most users, you do not need to install these tools separately. Installing Rust through rustup sets them up together.
How to Install Rust on Windows
Installing Rust on Windows is straightforward, but Windows may also require Microsoft C++ build tools so Rust can compile programs correctly.
Step 1: Open the Official Rust Installation Page
Visit the official Rust installation page:
Official Rust Installation Page
For Windows, the website provides the rustup-init.exe installer.
Choose the installer appropriate for your Windows system, such as x64 for most modern Windows PCs.
Step 2: Download rustup-init.exe
Download:
rustup-init.exe
Once the download is complete, open the downloaded file.
Windows may ask for permission to run it. Allow the installer to continue.
Step 3: Start the Rust Installation
The installer opens a command-line window and displays installation options.
For a normal Rust installation, select the default installation option.
Usually, this means entering:
1
and pressing:
Enter
The installer will download and configure the Rust toolchain.
Step 4: Install Required Visual C++ Build Tools
On Windows, Rust using the standard MSVC toolchain requires Microsoft Visual C++ build tools.
If the Rust installer tells you that the required Visual Studio components are missing, install the required C++ build tools and then continue with the Rust installation.
You generally need the C++ build tools that provide the compiler, linker, and required Windows libraries.
This step is important because you may otherwise encounter linker-related errors when compiling Rust programs.
Step 5: Restart the Terminal
After installation finishes, close the current Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal.
Open a new terminal.
This allows updated environment variables such as PATH to take effect.
Step 6: Verify Rust Installation on Windows
Run:
rustc --version
You should see output similar to:
rustc 1.x.x
The exact version number depends on the current Rust release.
Now check Cargo:
cargo --version
You should see:
cargo 1.x.x
Finally, check rustup:
rustup --version
If all three commands return version information, Rust has been installed successfully.
How to Install Rust on macOS
The recommended Rust installation method on macOS is also rustup.
Step 1: Open Terminal
Open:
Applications → Utilities → Terminal
You can also use Spotlight:
Command + Space
Search for:
Terminal
and open it.
Step 2: Install Apple Command Line Tools
Rust programs require a linker. On macOS, the required development tools can be installed using Apple’s Command Line Tools.
Run:
xcode-select --install
A popup may appear.
Click:
Install
Wait until the installation finishes.
If the Command Line Tools are already installed, macOS will tell you that they are already available.
Step 3: Install Rust Using rustup
Run the official Rust installation command:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
This command downloads and starts the rustup installer.
Step 4: Choose the Default Installation
The installer will display several options.
For most users, choose the default installation.
Usually you can enter:
1
and press:
Enter
rustup will then download and install the stable Rust toolchain.
Step 5: Restart Terminal
After installation finishes, close Terminal and open it again.
This is recommended so the updated PATH configuration is loaded correctly.
You can then check Rust with:
rustc --version
Step 6: Verify Rust Installation on macOS
Run:
rustc --version
Then:
cargo --version
And:
rustup --version
If version information appears for these commands, your Rust installation is working.
How to Install Rust on Linux
Rust can be installed on most Linux distributions using the same rustup installation command.
This includes popular distributions such as:
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- Fedora
- Linux Mint
- Arch Linux
- Pop!_OS
- Other common Linux distributions
Step 1: Open the Terminal
Open your Linux terminal.
On many desktop Linux systems, you can use:
Ctrl + Alt + T
Step 2: Make Sure curl Is Installed
The standard rustup installation command uses curl.
Check whether it is available:
curl --version
If the command works, continue to the Rust installation.
If you are using Ubuntu or Debian and curl is missing, you can install it with:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install curl
Step 3: Install Required Build Tools
Rust requires a linker to create executable files.
On Ubuntu or Debian-based distributions, you can install the common build tools with:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install build-essential
Other Linux distributions may use different package managers and development-tool packages.
Step 4: Install Rust Using rustup
Run:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
The Rust installation menu will appear.
Choose the default installation option.
Usually:
1
Then press:
Enter
The installer will download and configure Rust.
Step 5: Reload Your Terminal
After the installation completes, close and reopen your terminal.
Alternatively, depending on your shell configuration, you can load Cargo’s environment configuration using:
source "$HOME/.cargo/env"
Then check the installation.
Step 6: Verify Rust Installation on Linux
Run:
rustc --version
Then:
cargo --version
And:
rustup --version
If these commands display their versions, Rust has been installed successfully.
Rust Installation Commands for Each Operating System
Here is a quick comparison.
| Operating System | Installation Method |
|---|---|
| Windows | Download and run rustup-init.exe |
| macOS | Run the rustup installation command |
| Linux | Run the rustup installation command |
| WSL | Run the Linux/Unix rustup installation command |
For macOS, Linux, and WSL:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
For Windows, use the official installer available from the Rust website.
Where Is Rust Installed?
When Rust is installed through rustup, Rust tools are normally placed inside Cargo’s bin directory.
On macOS and Linux:
~/.cargo/bin
On Windows:
%USERPROFILE%\.cargo\bin
This directory contains commands such as:
rustc
cargo
rustup
rustup normally attempts to add this directory to your system’s PATH automatically.
How to Check Whether Rust Is Installed
The easiest command is:
rustc --version
If Rust is installed correctly, you should receive version information.
You can also check all three main tools:
rustc --version
cargo --version
rustup --version
If all commands work, your basic Rust environment is ready.
What If “rustc: command not found” Appears?
After installing Rust, you may encounter an error such as:
rustc: command not found
or on Windows:
'rustc' is not recognized as an internal or external command
This commonly means the terminal has not loaded the updated PATH.
First, close your terminal completely and open it again.
Then try:
rustc --version
On macOS or Linux, you can also try:
source "$HOME/.cargo/env"
Then run:
rustc --version
If it still does not work, make sure the Cargo bin directory is available in your PATH.
How to Check the Rust Compiler
Run:
rustc --version
rustc stands for the Rust compiler.
If you receive version information, the compiler is available.
How to Check Cargo
Run:
cargo --version
Cargo is installed automatically with a normal rustup Rust installation.
If Cargo returns version information, it has been installed correctly.
How to Check rustup
Run:
rustup --version
This confirms that the rustup toolchain manager is available.
How to Update Rust
If Rust is already installed through rustup, you can update your installed Rust toolchain using:
rustup update
rustup will check for updates and install the appropriate newer toolchain components.
After updating, check the version again:
rustc --version
How to Check for Rustup Updates
You can also run:
rustup check
This checks whether installed Rust toolchains and rustup itself have updates available.
How to Uninstall Rust
If Rust was installed using rustup, removing it is simple.
Run:
rustup self uninstall
You will be asked to confirm the removal.
After confirmation, rustup removes the Rust toolchains and related rustup-managed data.
Common Rust Installation Problems
1. rustc Command Is Not Found
Example:
rustc: command not found
First restart your terminal.
On macOS or Linux, try:
source "$HOME/.cargo/env"
Then:
rustc --version
2. Cargo Command Is Not Found
If:
cargo --version
does not work, restart your terminal and check your PATH.
Cargo normally exists in:
~/.cargo/bin
on macOS/Linux or:
%USERPROFILE%\.cargo\bin
on Windows.
3. Linker Error on Windows
If Rust is installed but compiling a program produces a linker-related error, make sure the required Microsoft Visual C++ build tools are installed.
The official Rust Windows installation may prompt you to install these prerequisites.
4. Linker Error on macOS
Make sure Apple’s Command Line Tools are installed:
xcode-select --install
After installation, restart Terminal and try again.
5. Linker Error on Ubuntu or Debian
Make sure the required build tools are available:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install build-essential
Then retry your Rust command.
Useful Rust Installation Commands
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
rustc --version | Check installed Rust compiler version |
cargo --version | Check Cargo version |
rustup --version | Check rustup version |
rustup update | Update installed Rust toolchains |
rustup check | Check for available updates |
rustup self uninstall | Uninstall rustup and Rust toolchains |
source "$HOME/.cargo/env" | Load Cargo environment on Unix-like systems |
xcode-select --install | Install macOS command-line developer tools |
These commands are enough for installing, verifying, updating, and maintaining a basic Rust installation.
Windows vs macOS vs Linux Rust Installation
| Feature | Windows | macOS | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended installer | rustup | rustup | rustup |
| Main installation method | .exe installer | Terminal command | Terminal command |
rustc included | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cargo included | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| rustup included | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extra build tools may be required | Visual C++ Build Tools | Apple Command Line Tools | GCC/Clang or distro build tools |
Regardless of your operating system, rustup provides a consistent way to manage the Rust toolchain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rust Free to Install?
Yes. Rust is free and open-source.
What Is the Recommended Way to Install Rust?
The official Rust documentation recommends installing Rust through rustup.
Does Rust Work on Windows?
Yes. Rust supports Windows. For the standard Windows MSVC toolchain, you may also need Microsoft’s C++ build tools.
Does Rust Work on macOS?
Yes. Rust can be installed on macOS using rustup. Apple Command Line Tools provide the required compiler/linker tools.
Does Rust Work on Linux?
Yes. Rust supports major Linux distributions. The recommended installation method is rustup.
Is Cargo Installed Separately?
Normally, no. When you install the stable Rust toolchain through rustup, Cargo is installed along with Rust.
How Do I Know Rust Is Installed?
Run:
rustc --version
If the command displays a Rust version, the compiler is installed and accessible.
How Do I Update Rust?
Run:
rustup update
How Do I Remove Rust?
Run:
rustup self uninstall
Conclusion
Installing Rust is relatively straightforward because the Rust project provides rustup as the recommended installer and toolchain manager.
On Windows, download and run rustup-init.exe and install the required Microsoft C++ build tools if prompted.
On macOS, install Apple’s Command Line Tools and run:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
On Linux, make sure the required build tools are installed and run the same rustup command:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
Finally, verify the installation with:
rustc --version
cargo --version
rustup --version
Once these commands return version information, Rust is installed and ready to use.
