Install Ruby on Windows

System requirements

• OS: Windows 7 or later, 32-bit or 64-bit (Windows 10 or 11 is best).
• Processor: any modern CPU.
• RAM: at least 2 GB (4 GB or more is better).
• Disk: at least 500 MB of free space.
• Rights: administrator rights may be needed.
• A command line (Command Prompt or PowerShell) and, if you like, an editor such as Notepad++, Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text.

Step 1: Download RubyInstaller

Open rubyinstaller.org, go to Downloads and pick the recommended Ruby+Devkit version for your system (64-bit is usual).

Step 2: Accept the license agreement

Run the installer and accept the license.

Step 3: Choose the install location and options

Choose the folder (the default is C:\Ruby33-x64, where the number depends on the version). Tick these options:

• Add Ruby executables to your PATH.
• Associate .rb and .rbw files with this Ruby installation.

  

Step 4: Select the components

Keep these ticked:

• Ruby RI and HTML documentation.
• MSYS2 development toolchain. It lets you build gems with native code.

  

Step 5: Install MSYS2 and the toolchain

Click Install. When it finishes, keep Run 'ridk install' ticked and click Finish. A console window opens.

Press Enter to install the default MSYS2 and MINGW development toolchain (option 1, 2 and 3).

Step 6: Check the install

Open a new Command Prompt:

ruby -v

Also try gem -v and ruby -e "puts 'Hello, Ruby!'".

First steps

Install a gem:

gem install colorize

Run a script. Create hello.rb:

puts "Hello, Ruby!"

ruby hello.rb

Quick recap

• Download RubyInstaller with Devkit.
• Tick Add Ruby executables to your PATH and the MSYS2 option.
• Check with ruby -v.