Python Installation Guide

Install Python, verify that it works, and avoid the most common beginner setup problems

Author

Amanda R. Kube Jotte

Published

September 27, 2026

Python Installation Guide

Install Python, verify that it works, and avoid the most common beginner setup problems

Beginning Python and Data Science Students · 15–25 minutes · Beginner · Version 0.1

Before You Begin

This guide is for you if you:

  • have never installed Python before
  • are preparing for an introductory programming or data science course
  • want to check whether Python is already installed correctly or
  • are seeing messages such as python: command not found, Python was not found, or pip is not recognized.

By the end of the guide, you will be able to:

  • choose between a standard Python installation and Anaconda
  • install Python using the approach that fits your needs
  • verify that Python and pip are available
  • understand the basic pieces that were installed and
  • diagnose several common installation problems.
NoteA note for students

Follow your instructor’s directions when they specify a particular Python version, distribution, or environment. Course requirements should take priority over the general recommendations in this guide.

Which Installation Should You Choose?

There is more than one legitimate way to install Python. The best option depends on what you are trying to do.

Your situation Recommended starting point
You are taking your first Python course Install Python from python.org
You want a small, general-purpose installation Install Python from python.org
Your instructor specifically requires Anaconda Install Anaconda
You want Python, Jupyter, and many scientific packages bundled together Consider Anaconda
You already have a working installation Skip to Verify Your Installation

Option 1: Python from python.org

This is the recommended starting point for most beginners.

Advantages

  • relatively small installation
  • works well with VSCode and most other IDEs
  • makes the relationship between Python and installed packages easier to understand and
  • includes pip, Python’s standard package installer.

Tradeoff

You install additional packages yourself as you need them.

Option 2: Anaconda

Anaconda is a Python distribution designed primarily for scientific computing and data science. It bundles Python with Jupyter, the Conda environment manager, and many commonly used packages.

Advantages

  • includes many scientific and data-analysis tools
  • includes Jupyter
  • offers environment and package management through conda and
  • can be convenient when a course or research group already uses Conda.

Tradeoffs

  • much larger download
  • introduces additional concepts, including Conda environments and the distinction between conda and pip
  • can be more setup than a first-time learner needs.

Recommendation: Install Python from python.org unless your instructor asks you to use Anaconda or you specifically want the bundled scientific-computing environment.

I already installed Anaconda. Should I uninstall it?

No. If Anaconda is working and your course supports it, there is usually no reason to remove it. The important question is which Python environment your terminal, editor, or notebook is currently using.

Install Python from python.org

The official Python downloads page recommends a current stable release for your operating system.

Open the official Python website

Go to https://www.python.org/downloads/.

Avoid downloading Python from an advertisement, third-party download site, or an unfamiliar app store listing.

Run the installer

Follow the instructions for your operating system below.

Windows Installation

  1. Open the downloaded Python Install Manager.

  2. Follow the prompts to install the Python Install Manager.

  3. Once installation is complete, open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or the VS Code terminal.

  4. Run:

    python

  5. If a Python runtime is not already installed, the Python Install Manager can install the latest stable version of Python.

  6. Follow any additional configuration prompts that appear.

  7. Close and reopen your terminal before verifying the installation.

NoteThe Windows installation process has changed

Recent versions of Python use the Python Install Manager on Windows. You may see older tutorials that use a standalone Python installer with an Add python.exe to PATH checkbox. The standalone installer is being phased out, so this guide uses the newer installation method.

The Windows installer with “Add python.exe to PATH” highlighted.
TipUsing the Python Install Manager

The Python Install Manager manages the Python versions installed on your computer. After setup, commands such as python and py can be used to access Python from the command line.

If you later need a particular version of Python, you can use the Python Install Manager to install and manage additional versions rather than downloading a separate installer for each version.

macOS Installation

  1. Open the downloaded .pkg installer.
  2. Continue through the installation screens.
  3. Accept the default location unless you have a specific reason to change it.
  4. Finish the installation.
  5. Close and reopen Terminal before verifying the installation.

On many Macs, the command used for Python 3 is python3 rather than python.

Linux Installation

Many Linux distributions already include Python 3. Before installing anything, open a terminal and run:

python3 --version

When Python is missing or your course requires a different version, follow the package-management instructions for your Linux distribution.

Install Anaconda

Use this section only when you have chosen Anaconda.

Download Anaconda

Go to https://www.anaconda.com/download and select the installer for your operating system.

Run the installer

Accept the default installation options unless your course or workplace provides different directions.

On Windows, Anaconda may recommend that you launch its tools through Anaconda Navigator or Anaconda Prompt rather than adding Anaconda to the system PATH. Follow the current installer recommendation.

Launch Anaconda Navigator

Open Anaconda Navigator and confirm that applications such as Jupyter Notebook or JupyterLab are available.

Verify Conda

Open Anaconda Prompt on Windows, or Terminal on macOS or Linux, and run:

conda --version

You should see a Conda version number.

NoteConda and pip are not the same tool

Both can install Python packages, but they manage packages and environments differently. Avoid switching between them casually inside the same environment until you understand which environment you are changing.

Verify Your Installation

Verification is not optional. It tells you whether the installation worked and which command your computer recognizes.

Check Python

Open a new terminal window.

On Windows, try:

python --version

On macOS or Linux, try:

python3 --version

A successful result looks similar to:

Python 3.x.x

The exact version number may differ.

Start Python Interactively

Run the command that worked for you:

python

or:

python3

You should see a Python prompt beginning with >>>.

Test it:

print("Python is ready")

Exit with:

exit()

Check pip

Use the Python command that worked on your computer:

python -m pip --version

or:

python3 -m pip --version

Using python -m pip or python3 -m pip makes the connection between the Python interpreter and its package installer explicit.

What Did You Install?

A standard Python installation normally gives you three important pieces.

The Python Interpreter

The interpreter executes Python code. When you run a .py file, a notebook cell, or an interactive command, a Python interpreter performs the computation.

The Standard Library

Python includes many built-in modules for common tasks such as working with files, dates, mathematics, and operating-system information.

pip

pip installs additional packages that are not included in the standard library.

For example:

python -m pip install pandas

Do not install packages merely to test the installation. First verify Python and pip; then install the packages required for your course or project.

Common Installation Problems

python is not recognized or the command is not found

Try python3 --version. If that works, use python3 on this computer.

Why it happens

Your system may use python3 as the command name, or Python may not have been added to PATH.

Check

python3 --version

Fix

  • If python3 works, use python3.
  • If neither command works, close and reopen the terminal.
  • On Windows, rerun the installer and confirm that Python is added to PATH.
  • Confirm that the installation completed successfully.

Windows opens the Microsoft Store when I type python

Windows may be using an App Execution Alias instead of the Python installation you intended.

Check

Confirm whether Python is installed from python.org and whether its installation folder is on PATH.

Fix

  1. Search Windows Settings for App execution aliases.
  2. Review the aliases for python.exe and python3.exe.
  3. Disable conflicting store aliases when you have installed Python separately.
  4. Open a new terminal and check the version again.

pip is not recognized

Use the Python interpreter to launch pip directly.

Try:

python -m pip --version

or:

python3 -m pip --version

If this works, use the same form when installing packages:

python -m pip install package-name

A package installs, but Python still cannot import it

The package was probably installed into a different Python environment.

Why it happens

Your computer may have more than one Python installation. The pip command and the Python interpreter used by your editor or notebook may refer to different environments.

Fix

  1. Identify the Python interpreter used by the terminal, editor, or notebook.
  2. Run pip through that interpreter:
python -m pip install package-name
  1. In VS Code, verify the selected interpreter or notebook kernel.

I have more than one version of Python

Multiple versions are not automatically a problem. The goal is to know which one your project is using.

As a beginner, keep one primary installation when possible. Before installing packages, verify the interpreter with:

python --version

or:

python3 --version

Anaconda Navigator opens, but my terminal cannot find conda

Use Anaconda Prompt on Windows, or initialize Conda for your shell if your installation instructions require it.

Do not repeatedly reinstall Anaconda. First confirm whether Conda works inside Anaconda Prompt and whether your ordinary shell has been configured to recognize it.

Best Practices

  • Download Python or Anaconda only from the official source.
  • Follow your course’s required version or distribution when one is specified.
  • Verify the installation before adding packages or configuring an editor.
  • Use python -m pip or python3 -m pip when you need to ensure that pip belongs to the intended interpreter.
  • Avoid installing several Python distributions without a clear reason.
  • Before reinstalling anything, identify which interpreter or environment is currently active.
  • Copy complete error messages as text when asking for help.

Next Steps

Once Python is installed and verified, continue with the tools required for your work.

Common next steps include:

  1. install Visual Studio Code
  2. select the correct Python interpreter in VS Code
  3. install or launch Jupyter
  4. create a project folder
  5. install only the packages required for the project.

Quick Verification Checklist