How to Install cURL on Windows

I remember cURL being easier to install than it currently seems to be. I've had a few questions from people working through my book "Automating and Testing a REST API" on who were experiencing difficulties installing cURL on Windows. I documented a few different approaches.

In order of easiness:

• Install it using Chocolatey.
• Install it with a one-click installer.
• Using official cURL binaries.

Install It Using Chocolatey

Assuming you have Chocolatey installed.

Then use choco install curl

Install It With a One-Click Installer

If you prefer graphical installers, then the one-click installer from confused by code seemed to work well.

This installs everything and adds curl to your path, I've used this before for setting up my machines for training courses.

During the installation process, it might prompt you to install the VC++ redistributables, but there is a link in the installer that takes you to the download, then download and install then click continue in the cURL install to continue.

Then cURL should be on your path.

Official Installs From cURL

I found these the hardest to work with. It was not easy to see which were binary packages and which were not.

I went to curl.haxx.se/dlwiz and looked at the window compiled versions

I found the following that worked relatively easily:

• The SSL enabled cab file 7.59.0 from Stefan Kanthak..
• The 7.59 MinGW version from Viktor Szakats. curl.exe is in the \bin folder and if I can run curl from this folder or add it to the path.

Other Options

I haven't tried these for a while, but they might offer useful research opportunities.

Supporting Videos

You can also find all the videos on the Automating and Testing a REST API Book Support Page.

Install Using Chocolatey

Confused by Code Installer

Official Installs