How To Install Python 3 on Windows 10

phoenixnap.com/kb/how-to-install-python-3-windows

April 2, 2019

Introduction
Python is a widely used high-level programming language first launched in 1991. Since
then, Python has been gaining popularity and is considered as one of the most popular
and flexible server-side programming languages.

Unlike most Linux distributions, Windows does not come with the Python programming
language by default. However, you can install Python on your Windows server or
local machine in just a few easy steps.

Python 3 Installation on Windows

Step 1: Select Version of Python to Install

The installation procedure involves downloading the official Python .exe installer and
running it on your system.

The version you need depends on what you want to do in Python. For example, if you are
working on a project coded in Python version 2.6, you probably need that version. If you
are starting a project from scratch, you have the freedom to choose.

1/8
If you are learning to code in Python, we recommend you download both the latest
version of Python 2 and 3. Working with Python 2 enables you to work on older
projects or test new projects for backward compatibility.

Note: If you are installing Python on a remote Windows server, log in via Remote
Desktop Protocol (RDP). Once you log in, the installation procedure is the same as for a
local Windows machine.

Step 2: Download Python Executable Installer

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the Downloads for Windows section of the
official Python website.
2. Search for your desired version of Python. At the time of publishing this article, the
latest Python 3 release is version 3.7.3, while the latest Python 2 release is version
2.7.16.
3. Select a link to download either the Windows x86-64 executable installer or
Windows x86 executable installer. The download is approximately 25MB.

2/8
Note: If your Windows installation is a 32-bit system, you need the Windows x86
executable installer. If your Windows is a 64-bit version, you need to download the
Windows x86-64 executable installer. There is nothing to worry about if you
install the “wrong” version. You can uninstall one version of Python and install another.

Step 3: Run Executable Installer

1. Run the Python Installer once downloaded. (In this example, we have downloaded
Python 3.7.3.)

2. Make sure you select the Install launcher for all users and Add Python 3.7 to
PATH checkboxes. The latter places the interpreter in the execution path. For older
versions of Python that do not support the Add Python to Path checkbox, see Step 6.

3. Select Install Now – the recommended installation options.

For all recent versions of Python, the recommended installation options include Pip and
IDLE. Older versions might not include such additional features.

4. The next dialog will prompt you to select whether to Disable path length limit.
Choosing this option will allow Python to bypass the 260-character MAX_PATH limit.
Effectively, it will enable Python to use long path names.

3/8
The Disable path length limit option will not affect any other system settings.
Turning it on will resolve potential name length issues that may arise with Python
projects developed in Linux.

Step 4: Verify Python Was Installed On Windows

1. Navigate to the directory in which Python was installed on the system. In our case,
it is C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37
since we have installed the latest version.
2. Double-click python.exe.
3. The output should be similar to what you can see below:

4/8
Note: You can also check whether the installation was successful by typing python –V
in Command Prompt. The output should display your installed version of Python. In
our case, it is “Python 3.7.3.”

Step 5: Verify Pip Was Installed

If you opted to install an older version of Python, it is possible that it did not come with
Pip preinstalled. Pip is a powerful package management system for Python software
packages. Thus, make sure that you have it installed.

We recommend using Pip for most Python packages, especially when working in virtual
environments.

To verify whether Pip was installed:

1. Open the Start menu and type “cmd.”

2. Select the Command Prompt application.
3. Enter pip -V in the console. If Pip was installed successfully, you should see the
following output:

5/8
Pip has not been installed yet if you get the following output:

’pip’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,

Operable program or batch file.

If your version of Python is missing Pip, see our article How to Install Pip to Manage
Python Packages on Windows.

Step 6: Add Python Path to Environment Variables (Optional)

We recommend you go through this step if your version of the Python installer does not
include the Add Python to PATH checkbox or if you have not selected that option.

Setting up the Python path to system variables alleviates the need for using full paths. It
instructs Windows to look through all the PATH folders for “python” and find the install
folder that contains the python.exe file.

1. Open the Start menu and start the Run app.

6/8
2. Type sysdm.cpl and click OK. This opens the System Properties window.

3. Navigate to the Advanced tab and select Environment Variables.

4. Under System Variables, find and select the Path variable.

5. Click Edit.

6. Select the Variable value field. Add the path to the python.exe file preceded with a
semicolon (;). For example, in the image below, we have added “;C:\Python34.”

7. Click OK and close all windows.

By setting this up, you can execute

Python scripts like this: Python
script.py

Instead of this:
C:/Python34/Python
script.py

As you can see, it is cleaner and more manageable.

Step 7: Install virtualnv (Optional)

You have Python, and you have Pip to manage packages. Now, you need one last
software package – virtualnv. Virtualnv enables you to create isolated local virtual
environments for your Python projects.

Why use virtualnv?

Python software packages are installed system-wide by default. Consequently, whenever

a single project-specific package is changed, it changes for all your Python projects. You
would want to avoid this, and having separate virtual environments for each project is
the easiest solution.

To install virtualnv:

7/8
1. Open the Start menu and type “cmd.”

2. Select the Command Prompt application.

3. Type the following pip command in the console:

C:\Users\Username> pip install virtualenv

Upon completion, virtualnv is installed on your system.

Conclusion
In this tutorial, we detailed how to install Python 3.7.3 on Windows. If you are
installing a different version of Python, you can expect a similar process.

Remember, choose your version carefully, make sure that you have Pip installed, and use
virtual environments when developing multiple projects on a single system.

Happy coding!

8/8