Cygwin (sɪɡwɪn/ SIG-win) is a free and open-source Unix-like environment and command-line interface (CLI) for Microsoft Windows. The project also provides a software repository containing open-source packages. Cygwin allows source code for Unix-like operating systems to be compiled and run on Windows. Cygwin provides native integration of Windows-based applications.
The terminal emulator mintty is the default command-line interface provided to interact with the environment. The Cygwin installation directory layout mimics the root file system of Unix-like systems, with directories such as /bin, /home, /etc, /usr, and /var.
Cygwin is released under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 3. It was originally developed by Cygnus Solutions, which was later acquired by Red Hat (now part of IBM), to port the GNU toolchain to Win32, including the GNU Compiler Suite. Rather than rewrite the tools to use the Win32 runtime environment, Cygwin implemented a POSIX-compatible environment in the form of a DLL.
What is Cygwin?
Cygwin by Cygwin (developed by Red Hat) is open-source Windows software in the terminals & cli tools category. It ranks 19th by popularity among terminals & cli tools in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 1995. It is written in C++ and C.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE installers for 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 1.6 MB. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 3.7.0-0.590.gdae171e433cd, released on February 28, 2026. The version history goes back to January 5, 2024: 3 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 1.4 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 2,616,402 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 33 of our languages. Similar programs include PowerShell, QPDF and Alacritty.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Small download (1.6 MB)
- Large user base
- Mature project (since 1995)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Cygwin is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Cygwin safe to download?
- The file is served by cygwin.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
2C9F2FB56E1FB687B5D9680AFA8F8B06E6214F0E483096AF0EAE1946431226C5· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 3 versions ›3 versions over 2 years · about 1.4 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7.0-0.590.gdae171e433cdLatest | February 28, 2026 | 1.6 MB | 32-bit EXE32-bit EXE64-bit EXE64-bit EXE |
| 3.5.7 | April 16, 2024 | 1.4 MB | 64-bit EXE |
| 3.4.9 | January 5, 2024 | 1.4 MB | 64-bit EXE |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Cygwin.Cygwin -echoco install Cygwin -yscoop install main/cygwinsetup-2.937.x86_64.exe --quiet-mode hidden --site "https://mirrors.kernel.org/sourceware/cygwin/"Program files (.exe): cygwin.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Cygwin
- Developer
- Red Hat and Cygnus Solutions
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- cygwin.com
- Written in
- C++ and C
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE
- Version
- 3.7.0-0.590.gdae171e433cd
- Released
- February 28, 2026
- First release
- 1995
- Added to the catalogue
- January 5, 2024
- Versions listed
- 3
- Updates / year
- 1.4
- Chocolatey downloads
- 2,616,402
- Downloads on ExeAtlas
- 4
- Website
- cygwin.com
- winget ID
- Cygwin.Cygwin
- Chocolatey package
- Cygwin
- Scoop package
- main/cygwin
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Cygwin free?
Yes. Cygwin is open-source software under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Is Cygwin safe to download?
The download comes from cygwin.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Cygwin with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Cygwin be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Cygwin run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Cygwin?
The versions page lists all 3 versions with links to their official installer files, back to January 5, 2024.
Can I use Cygwin without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Cygwin?
PowerShell, QPDF, Alacritty, fzf and cURL. The alternatives page compares them.
