brew command not found

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Getting the brew: command not found error? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. This guide is a complete, step-by-step fix for macOS, Linux, and even Windows users using WSL. Whether you’re just getting started with Homebrew or accidentally uninstalled it, here’s everything you need to know to resolve it quickly.

What is the “brew command not found” Error?

This error means the terminal doesn’t recognize the brew command. It usually happens when:

Homebrew is not installed properly.
The PATH environment variable doesn’t include Homebrew’s path.
You’re using a shell like Zsh or Bash, and it’s not configured to recognize brew.

Fix for macOS Users

1. Check if Homebrew is installed

Open Terminal and run:

brew –version

If you see command not found , proceed to install it.

2. Install Homebrew (Official Way)

Paste this in your Terminal:

/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”

3. Add Homebrew to your PATH

Depending on your shell:

For Zsh (macOS default now):

echo ‘eval “$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)”‘ >> ~/.zprofile source ~/.zprofile

For Bash:

echo ‘eval “$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)”‘ >> ~/.bash_profile source ~/.bash_profile

For Intel Macs, use this path:

echo ‘eval “$(/usr/local/bin/brew shellenv)”‘ >> ~/.zprofile source ~/.zprofile

4. Test the fix

Run:

brew doctor

If it says “Your system is ready to brew,” you’re all set.

Fix for Linux Users (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.)

1. Install Required Dependencies

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential curl file git

2. Install Homebrew on Linux

Run:

/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”

3. Add Homebrew to your PATH

echo ‘eval “$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)”‘ >> ~/.bashrc source ~/.bashrc

Or for Zsh:

echo ‘eval “$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)”‘ >> ~/.zshrc source ~/.zshrc

4. Test Homebrew

brew –version

Fix for Windows Users (WSL)

Windows doesn’t support Homebrew natively, but it works inside WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux).

1. Install WSL & Ubuntu

Open PowerShell as Administrator:

powershell

wsl –install

After rebooting, Ubuntu will be installed by default.

2. Install Linuxbrew in WSL

Open your Ubuntu WSL shell:

/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”

3. Add to PATH

Add this to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc:

eval “$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)”

Then run:

source ~/.bashrc

4. Check the installation

brew doctor

Pro Tips for All Users

Always restart your terminal after installing or editing .zshrc / .bashrc .
If using Oh My Zsh, make sure it doesn’t override your PATH.
Use brew doctor to detect common issues.
To reinstall Homebrew:

/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/uninstall.sh)”

Then reinstall again.

This guide covers every possible setup (macOS Intel/ARM, Linux, WSL) — so no matter what you’re using, your “brew: command not found” issue should be solved now.