Why does this batch variable never change even when set?

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With batch files, variables are expanded when their command is read – so that would be as soon as the for executes. At that point, it no longer says echo %first%, it literally says echo 0, because that was the value at the point of expansion.

To get around that, you need to use delayed expansion by surrounding your variable name with ! instead of % – so that would be echo !first!. This may require you to start cmd.exe with the /V parameter, or use setlocal enabledelayedexpansion in the beginning of your batch file (just after echo off).

If you type set /?, you’ll see a much more detailed explanation of this at the end of the output.

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