To learn how to install Python on your system, you can follow a few straightforward steps. First, check if Python is already installed by opening a command-line interface and typing python --version or python3 --version.
You can install Python on Windows using the official installer from Python.org or through the Microsoft Store. On macOS, you can use the official installer or Homebrew. For Linux, use your package manager or build Python from source.
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll understand how to:
- Check if Python is installed by running
python --versionorpython3 --versionin a command-line interface. - Upgrade Python by downloading and installing the latest version from Python.org.
- Install and manage multiple Python versions with
pyenvto keep them separate.
This tutorial covers installing the latest Python on the most important platforms or operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. However, it doesn’t cover all the existing Linux distributions, as that would be a massive task. Nevertheless, you’ll find instructions for the most popular distributions available today.
To get the most out of this tutorial, you should be comfortable using your operating system’s terminal or command line.
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Take the Quiz: Test your knowledge with our interactive “How to Install Python on Your System: A Guide” quiz. You’ll receive a score upon completion to help you track your learning progress:
Interactive Quiz
How to Install Python on Your System: A GuideIn this quiz, you'll test your understanding of how to install or update Python on your computer. With this knowledge, you'll be able to set up Python on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Windows: How to Check or Get Python
In this section, you’ll learn to check whether Python is installed on your Windows operating system (OS) and which version you have. You’ll also explore three installation options that you can use on Windows.
Note: In this tutorial, you’ll focus on installing the latest version of Python in your current operating system (OS) rather than on installing multiple versions of Python. If you want to install several versions of Python in your OS, then check out the Managing Multiple Python Versions With pyenv tutorial. Note that on Windows machines, you’d have to use pyenv-win instead of pyenv.
For a more comprehensive guide on setting up a Windows machine for Python programming, check out Your Python Coding Environment on Windows: Setup Guide.
Checking the Python Version on Windows
To check whether you already have Python on your Windows machine, open a command-line application like PowerShell or the Windows Terminal.
Follow the steps below to open PowerShell on Windows:
- Press the Win key.
- Type
PowerShell. - Press Enter.
Alternatively, you can right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell or Windows PowerShell (Admin). In some versions of Windows, you’ll find Terminal or Terminal (admin).
Note: To learn more about your options for the Windows terminal, check out Your Python Coding Environment on Windows: Setup Guide.
With the command line open, type in the following command and press the Enter key:
PS> python --version
Python 3.x.z
Using the --version switch will show you the installed version. Note that the 3.x.z part is a placeholder here. In your machine, x and z will be numbers corresponding to the specific version you have installed.
Alternatively, you can use the -V switch:
PS> python -V
Python 3.x.z
You can also use the py launcher, which is the Python launcher for Windows and is especially helpful if you plan to work with multiple Python versions:
PS> py --version
Python 3.x.z
Using the python --version, python -V, or py --version command, you can check whether Python is installed on your system and learn what version you have. If Python isn’t installed on your OS, you’ll get an error message.
Knowing the Python Installation Options on Windows
Python 3.14 introduced the Python Install Manager, which is a modern installation system that handles version management and automatic updates. This new tool is available through the Microsoft Store and Python.org. It’ll replace the traditional installer that’s been deprecated and won’t be produced for Python 3.16 or later.
You’ll have different options to install Python on a Windows machine:
- The Microsoft Store: The recommended installation method for Python 3.14+. It delivers the Python Install Manager with automatic updates and integrated version management.
- The traditional Python installer for Windows: The traditional installer from Python.org. While still functional, this method is considered legacy and has been deprecated in favor of the Python Install Manager.
- The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): Run Python in a Linux environment directly on Windows.
In this section, you’ll focus on only the first two options, which are the most popular ones on Windows environments.
Note: You can also complete the installation on Windows using alternative distributions, such as Anaconda, but this tutorial covers only official distributions.
Anaconda is a popular platform for scientific computing and data science with Python. To learn how to install Anaconda on Windows, check out the Setting Up Python for Machine Learning on Windows tutorial.
If you want to install Python in the WSL, you can read the Linux-related sections of this tutorial after installing the Linux distribution of your choice.
Windows: How to Install Python From the Microsoft Store
If you’re looking for the quickest and most modern installation approach, then you can install Python from the Microsoft Store. For Python 3.14+, the Microsoft Store delivers the Python Install Manager, which provides automatic updates and integrated version management.
This Python package from the Microsoft Store is identical to the traditional version from Python.org, with the same features and capabilities. According to the official Python documentation, both versions provide a full Python installation suitable for development and production use.
Note: If you’re installing Python 3.13 or earlier from the Microsoft Store, be aware that those versions have some limitations with write access to shared system locations. These limitations were addressed in Python 3.14’s Python Install Manager.
The main advantage of the Microsoft Store version is convenience because it integrates with Windows’ app management system and handles updates automatically.
Step 1: Open the Python App Page on the Microsoft Store
Open the Microsoft Store application on your Windows machine and search for the Python Install Manager app. Select the app to navigate to its page.
Note: Make sure that the application you’ve selected is by the Python Software Foundation (PSF), which is the organization behind Python’s development.
The official Python Install Manager app on the Microsoft Store is free, so if the app costs you money, then it’s the wrong application.
Once you’re there, you’re ready to start with the installation process.
Step 2: Install the Python Install Manager App
After you’ve selected the Python Install Manager app, follow these steps to complete the installation:
- Click the Get button.
- Wait for the app to download.
- Click the Open button.
When you click the Open button, you’ll be presented with a terminal window. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Once the installation is complete, open Windows PowerShell and run the python --version command to confirm that Python is installed on your machine. Note that the installation will reside in your user folder, so you don’t need admin privileges to complete the process.
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