make is a GNU command, so the only way you can get it on Windows is installing a Windows version like the one provided by GNUWin32. Anyway, there are several options for getting that:

  1. Directly download from Make for Windows

  2. Using Chocolatey. First, you need to install this package manager. Once installed, you simply need to install make (you may need to run it in an elevated/administrator command prompt):

    choco install make
    
  3. Another recommended option is installing a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL or WSL 2), so you'll have a Linux distribution of your choice embedded in Windows 10, where you'll be able to install make, gcc, and all the tools you need to build C programs.

  4. For older Windows versions (Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, or Windows 7 with msvcrt.dll) you can use GnuWin32.

An outdated alternative was MinGW, but the project seems to be abandoned, so it's better to go for one of the previous choices.

Answer from Eduardo Yáñez Parareda on Stack Overflow
🌐
SourceForge
gnuwin32.sourceforge.net › packages › make.htm
make for Windows
If msvcrt.dll or msvcp60.dll is not in your Windows/System folder, get them from Microsoft, or (msvcrt.dll only) by installing Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher. ... make,3.81,gnu,win32,win32s,win64,gnuwin32,i386,ia64,x86-64, gnuwin64,gnuwin,mswindows,ms-windows,windows,95,98,me,nt,2000,2k,xp,2003,vista
Discussions

how to install 'make' on Windows?
If you're using WSL, why not just sudo apt-get install make? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnprogramming
10
2
April 13, 2022
How do I install windows on my new PC?
I JUST went through this. You are going to have to create a bootable USB Windows Installer. I basically just did a ton of googling about how to do it from a mac. If I remember correctly, I installed a program called UNetbootin, downloaded a Windows 10 .iso file, and then used that program to put the .iso file onto the USB drive. Let me see if I can find a good link again for you. Edit: Detailed instructions! This should get you through! More on reddit.com
🌐 r/buildapc
42
68
July 24, 2019
How to use makefiles on Windows 10? Running into the same error message.
make is a Unix/Linux tool. There are versions of it available for Windows, but generally, the use of a Makefile is a good sign that a project targets Linux, not Windows. You can probably use something like MSYS2 to get a Unix-like environment for Windows (although you might have some trouble with pthread), or you could compile the program in WSL. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnprogramming
24
2
October 26, 2021
How can I make windows never install an update without my explicit permission?
Windows 10 and 11 handle updates in the exact same way and have the same options. There is a group policy that does exactly what you want. If you are on Pro or higher, run gpedit.msc, then go to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> All Settings. Scroll down to Configure Automatic Updates then open that. Set it to enabled (NOT DISABLED), then in the dropdown below pick option 2, notify for download and auto install. Now, when new updates are pending, Windows will give you the icon in the system tray but they won't run until you go in and start the process, so you can do it at a convenient time More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Windows11
39
6
September 7, 2023
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › how to install 'make' on windows?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: how to install 'make' on Windows?
April 13, 2022 -

Can anyone tell me the simplest and safest way to install make on windows? I have linux shell if that could make things easier.

I searched online and it takes me to sketchy websites with unsecured connection or tell me to install random packages like chocolaty etc-

🌐
Bifrost
docs.getbifrost.ai › deployment-guides › how-to › install-make
Install make command - Bifrost
# Install Homebrew if needed: https://brew.sh brew install make gmake --version · If a project specifically requires GNU make as make, you can use: echo ‘alias make=“gmake”’ >> ~/.zshrc && source ~/.zshrc · If make isn’t found, restart ...
🌐
Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d
Create installation media for Windows - Microsoft Support
To create installation media, go to the software download website, where step-by-step instructions can be found. On that website, you can select a version of Windows and create installation media on a USB flash.
🌐
Medium
medium.com › @AliMasaoodi › installing-make-on-windows-10-using-chocolatey-a-step-by-step-guide-5e178c449394
Installing and Using ‘Make’ on Windows 10 using Chocolatey: A Step-by-Step Guide | by Ali Masaoodi | Medium
April 29, 2023 - In this tutorial, we have shown you how to install make on Windows 10 using Chocolatey, with Chocolatey, installing make on Windows 10 is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few minutes.
Find elsewhere
🌐
GNU
gnu.org › software › make
Make - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Make gets its knowledge of how to build your program from a file called the makefile, which lists each of the non-source files and how to compute it from other files. When you write a program, you should write a makefile for it, so that it is possible to use Make to build and install the program.
🌐
Medium
leangaurav.medium.com › how-to-setup-install-gnu-make-on-windows-324480f1da69
How to setup/install GNU make on Windows | by leangaurav | Medium
September 9, 2023 - We need to add the path to the make binary to PATH variable. Go to the install location and then go to bin folder ... Note: if you don’t have persmission to edit system env vars, then choose edit env vars for your account.
🌐
O'Reilly
oreilly.com › library › view › learn-webassembly › 9781788997379 › d7c68ff9-ce2e-43d7-ba8a-86e1b5d088d5.xhtml
Installing GNU make on Windows - Learn WebAssembly [Book]
September 25, 2018 - Installing GNU make on Windows You can install GNU make on Windows using Chocolatey. Open up Command Prompt or PowerShell and run the following command: choco install make You may... - Selection from Learn WebAssembly [Book]
Author   Mike Rourke
Published   2018
Pages   328
🌐
Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › reinstall-windows-with-the-installation-media-d8369486-3e33-7d9c-dccc-859e2b022fc7
Reinstall Windows with the installation media - Microsoft Support
From the root directory of the drive, open the file setup.exe, and then select Yes when asked if you’d like to allow the app to make changes to your device ... Keep personal files only - This will preserve your personal data and settings, but all your apps will be removed · Keep nothing - This will remove all personal data, settings, and apps · To finish, select Install to start reinstalling Windows on your PC
🌐
Thrive My Way
thrivemyway.com › home › software › how to install and use “make” in windows – practical tips
How To Install And Use "Make" In Windows - Practical Tips - Learn Digital Marketing
September 20, 2023 - To install Make, download the Cygwin installer and select the ‘Devel’ category to find and install the ‘make’ package. It provides a robust Unix-like environment on Windows.
🌐
Espressif Docs
espressif-docs.readthedocs-hosted.com › projects › esp-idf › en › stable › get-started-legacy › windows-setup.html
Standard Setup of Toolchain for Windows (Legacy GNU Make) — ESP-IDF Programming Guide v4.1 documentation
Windows doesn’t have a built-in “make” environment, so as well as installing the toolchain you will need a GNU-compatible environment. We use the MSYS2 environment to provide this.
🌐
Oracle
oracle.com › database › technologies › instant-client › winx64-64-downloads.html
Instant Client for Microsoft Windows (x64) 64-bit
Download the appropriate Instant Client packages for your platform. All installations require the Basic or Basic Light package.
🌐
Linux Hint
linuxhint.com › install-use-make-windows
How to Install and Use make in Windows – Linux Hint
To install and use make on Windows, first, install the Chocolatey package manager. Then, install the make utility using the “choco install make” command.
🌐
HP
hp.com › us-en › shop › tech-takes › how-to-install-windows-11-from-usb
Install Windows 11 from USB Guide - HP® Tech Takes
January 31, 2025 - Learn how to install Windows 11 using a USB drive! Our step-by-step guide simplifies creating a bootable USB and installing the operating system on your laptop.
🌐
Git
git-scm.com › book › en › v2 › Getting-Started-Installing-Git
Git - Installing Git
There are also a few ways to install Git on Windows. The most official build is available for download on the Git website. Just go to https://git-scm.com/download/win and the download will start automatically.
🌐
MoldStud
moldstud.com › articles › developers faq › makefile developers questions
How do I run a makefile on Windows? | MoldStud
October 13, 2024 - I usually use WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) to run makefiles on Windows. It's a game-changer for developers who need to work on both Windows and Unix systems. Just install your favorite Linux distro from the Microsoft Store and you're good to go.