
Step 2: Install the Python AppĪfter you’ve selected the version to be installed, follow these steps to complete the installation: If you don’t already have a version of Python on your system, then when you press Enter, the Microsoft Store will automatically launch and take you to the latest version of Python in the store. Your installation won’t be limited by Microsoft Store policies, and you can control where the executable is installed and even add Python to PATH if necessary.

On the other hand, if you’re an experienced developer looking to develop professional software in a Windows environment, then the official installer is the right choice. This offers the shortest and easiest path to getting started with minimal hassle. If you’re new to Python and focused primarily on learning the language rather than building professional software, then you should install from the Microsoft Store package. In particular, it does not have full write access to shared locations such as TEMP or the registry. In addition to targeting beginning Pythonistas, the Microsoft Store package has limitations that make it ill-suited for a professional development environment. The key takeaway here is that the Microsoft Store package is “intended mainly for interactive use.” That is, the Microsoft Store package is designed to be used by students and people learning to use Python for the first time. The Microsoft Store package is an easily installable Python interpreter that is intended mainly for interactive use, for example, by students. The official Python documentation has this to say about the Microsoft Store package: Limitations of the Microsoft Store Package The Microsoft Store package has some important limitations. The two official Python installers for Windows aren’t identical. To learn how to install Anaconda on Windows, check out Setting Up Python for Machine Learning on Windows. Note: You can also complete the installation on Windows using alternative distributions, such as Anaconda, but this tutorial covers only official distributions.Īnaconda is a popular platform for doing scientific computing and data science with Python. If you want to install in the WSL, then you can read the Linux section of this tutorial after you’ve installed the Linux distribution of your choice. In this section, we’ll focus on only the first two options, which are the most popular installation methods in a Windows environment. You can learn how to enable the WSL by reading the Windows Subsystem for Linux Installation Guide for Windows 10. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): The WSL allows you to run a Linux environment directly in Windows.

This is recommended for intermediate and advanced developers who need more control during the setup process. This is recommended for beginner Python users looking for an easy-to-set-up interactive experience.įull Installer: This approach involves downloading Python directly from the website. Microsoft Store package: The most straightforward installation method on Windows involves installing from the Microsoft Store app. What Your Options AreĪs mentioned earlier, there are three ways to install the official Python distribution on Windows: Note that the where.exe command will work only if Python has been installed for your user account. Find your operating system below and dive in!Ĭ:\Users\mertz\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37-32\python.exe No matter what operating system you’re on, this tutorial has you covered. Use Python on the Web with online interpreters.Use Python on mobile devices like phones or tablets.Install or update Python on Windows, macOS, and Linux.Check which version of Python, if any, is installed on your machine.This tutorial focuses on official distributions, as they’re generally the best option for getting started with learning to program in Python. There are a multitude of installation methods: you can download official Python distributions from, install from a package manager, and even install specialized distributions for scientific computing, Internet of Things, and embedded systems. Installing or updating Python on your computer is the first step to becoming a Python programmer.


Watch it together with the written tutorial to deepen your understanding: Python Basics: Setting Up Python Watch Now This tutorial has a related video course created by the Real Python team.
