1. Navigate to the official Python website.
2. Click on the “Downloads” section specifically for Windows.
3. Select the latest stable Python 3 release (Python 3.13.1 as of 2025).
4. Download the Windows Installer (64-bit) unless you specifically need the 32-bit version for older hardware.

Pro Tip

Always download Python from the official source (python.org) rather than third-party websites to ensure you get a secure, unmodified version.

1. Locate the downloaded installer file and double-click to launch it.
2. Important: Check the box that says “Add python.exe to PATH.” This crucial step allows you to run Python from the command prompt without specifying the full path each time.
3. Click “Install Now” to begin the installation with the recommended default settings.
4. Wait for the installation process to complete (usually takes 1-3 minutes depending on your system).

Common Mistake Alert

Forgetting to check “Add python.exe to PATH” is the most common installation error. If you miss this step, you’ll need to add Python to your PATH manually or reinstall.

1. After installation completes, open a new Command Prompt or PowerShell window (the PATH changes won’t be active in windows that were already open).
2. Type the following command and press Enter to verify Python is installed correctly:
   python –version
3. You should see output displaying the installed Python version (e.g., “Python 3.13.1”).
4. To confirm pip (Python’s package manager) is installed, type:
   pip –version

Now that Python is installed, you can enhance your development experience by setting up a proper coding environment:

1. Install a code editor or Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Popular options include:
   • Visual Studio Code – Lightweight, extensible editor with excellent Python support
   • PyCharm – Full-featured Python IDE with advanced tools
   • Jupyter Notebook – Perfect for data science and interactive coding
2. Familiarize yourself with the Python REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) by typing python in the command prompt. This interactive environment allows you to test Python code directly.
3. Set up virtual environments for project isolation (covered in detail in a later section).

1. Visit the Python downloads page.
2. Download the latest macOS installer package.
3. Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the installation wizard.
4. Verify installation by opening Terminal and typing python3 --version.

Homebrew is a popular package manager for macOS that makes installing and updating Python easy:

1. Install Homebrew (if not already installed) by opening Terminal and running:
   /bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”
2. Install Python using Homebrew:
   brew install python
3. Verify installation:
   python3 –version

Mac Advantage

Using Homebrew to install Python on Mac makes future updates simpler. Just run brew upgrade python to get the latest version.

1. Update your package lists:
   sudo apt update
2. Install Python 3:
   sudo apt install python3 python3-pip
3. Verify installation:
   python3 –version

1. Install Python 3:
   sudo dnf install python3 python3-pip
2. Verify installation:
   python3 –version

1. Install Python 3:
   sudo pacman -S python python-pip
2. Verify installation:
   python –version

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Navigate to your project directory:
   cd path\to\your\project
3. Create a virtual environment:
   python -m venv myenv
4. Activate the virtual environment:
   myenv\Scripts\activate

1. Open Terminal.
2. Navigate to your project directory:
   cd path/to/your/project
3. Create a virtual environment:
   python3 -m venv myenv
4. Activate the virtual environment:
   source myenv/bin/activate

Best Practice

Create a separate virtual environment for each Python project to prevent dependency conflicts and make your projects more portable.

For developers working on multiple projects with different Python version requirements:

On Windows

Use the py launcher to manage multiple Python versions:

• Run a specific Python version:
  py -3.13
• Check installed versions:
  py –list

On Mac/Linux

Use pyenv for version management:

• Install pyenv (Mac with Homebrew):
  brew install pyenv
• Install a specific Python version:
  pyenv install 3.13.1
• Set a global Python version:
  pyenv global 3.13.1

Once Python is installed, you can enhance your development experience with these essential tools:

• IPython – Enhanced interactive Python shell:
  pip install ipython
• Jupyter Notebook – Interactive computing environment:
  pip install notebook
• Poetry – Dependency management tool:
  pip install poetry
• Black – Code formatter:
  pip install black
• Pylint – Code linter:
  pip install pylint

Problem: “Python is not recognized as an internal or external command”

Solution: This happens when Python is not in your PATH. Fix it by:

1. Reinstalling Python with the “Add python.exe to PATH” option checked.
2. Or manually adding Python to your PATH:
   • Open System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables
   • Edit the PATH variable and add the Python installation directory

Problem: Permission errors during installation

Solution: Right-click the installer and select “Run as administrator”.

Problem: Command “python” not found, but “python3” works

Solution: This is normal on Mac. Use python3 instead of python, or create an alias:

Then restart your terminal or run source ~/.zshrc.

Problem: Certificate verification errors with pip

Solution: Run the following command to install certificates:

Problem: Missing development headers

Solution: Install Python development packages:

Q: Can I install Python from the Microsoft Store on Windows?

Q: How do I uninstall Python if I need to start over?

Q: Is it necessary to use virtual environments?

Q: Can I have multiple versions of Python installed simultaneously?