Python 3 Installation on Windows

Python 3 Installation on Windows 10/11: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

To start developing applications using Python 3, we need to install Python 3 on our machine. This guide will show you how to install Python 3 on Windows 10 or Windows 11, download the latest release, verify installation, and customize settings.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, this guide will help you get Python up and running in no time. For beginners looking to start with Python, explore our Introduction to Python to establish a strong understanding of the core concepts.

Step 1: Download latest Python 3 release for Windows

We recommend downloading Python directly from the Python official website to ensure we have the most up-to-date and secure version. Python 3 release downloads are available form multiple other sources but we should always prefer to download from the Python official website. Avoid third-party sources, as they may contain outdated or modified versions of the Python installer. Currently Python 3.12.4 is the latest Python 3 release. We can download 32-bit or 64-bit Windows Installer as per the system configuration.

Step 2: (Optional) Verify the MD5 Sum for the Downloaded Installer

While this step isn’t mandatory, verifying the MD5 sum ensures the installer hasn’t been corrupted during download. It’s always better to compare to the MD5 sum for the downloaded installer. Here’s how we can verify the Python downloaded installer:

1. Navigate to the directory where we have downloaded or saved the Python installer.
2. Open the command prompt in that directory.
3. Run the following command:

CertUtil -hashfile <path-of-python-windows-installer> MD5

Provide the path (name) of Python 3 release Window Installer and run the command.

D:\>CertUtil -hashfile python-3.12.4-amd64.exe MD5
MD5 hash of python-3.12.4-amd64.exe:
f3df1be26cc7cbd8252ab5632b62d740
CertUtil: -hashfile command completed successfully.

Compare the MD5 hash of the downloaded file with the one provided on the Python website. If they match, we can proceed confidently with the installation.

Step 3: Run Python 3 Windows Installer for a Complete Installation

Once we have downloaded the Python installer, run the Python 3 Windows Installer to begin the installation process on Windows 10 or Windows 11

Click Install Now to start a standard Python 3 installation with default settings. Click on Customize installation for customized installation.

Python 3 Customized installation

By choosing the Python 3 Customize Installation option, we can select specific features like pip (Python’s package manager), additional documentation, and advanced settings for our development needs. This is especially useful if we want more control over our Python environment.

Python 3 Windows installation should be successful.

Validate Python 3 Installation

Once the Python 3 installation is complete, it’s important to verify that everything is set up correctly. We can validate the Python installation by checking the installed Python version:

• Open the Command Prompt
• Run the following command

python --version
python

Installing Python on Other Operating Systems

If you’re using a Linux-based system like Ubuntu, follow our detailed guide on Python 3 Installation on Ubuntu Linux to get Python set up on your machine.

Summary

In this article we followed the steps to install Python 3 on Windows 10 or Windows 11. Following steps were followed:

• Python 3 Installation on Windows 10/11: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
  • Step 1: Download latest Python 3 release for Windows
  • Step 2: (Optional) Verify the MD5 Sum for the Downloaded Installer
  • Step 3: Run Python 3 Windows Installer for a Complete Installation
  • Python 3 Customized installation
  • Validate Python 3 Installation
  • Installing Python on Other Operating Systems

Interview Questions & Answers

What is the significance of adding Python to the PATH during installation?

Adding Python to the PATH environment variable allows us to run Python from any path on the command line (CMD or PowerShell), we don’t need to specify full directory path of the Python installation or Python interpreter. This allows us to launch Python interpreter simply typing python or python3 from any path location on the system. This also allows to run Python scripts directly from any path.

What steps would you take if Python 3 is installed but the python command is not recognized?

If Python 3 is successfully installed on the system but the python command is not recognized, then it usually means that Python was not added to the PATH environment variable during installation. To resolve this issue, we can manually add Python to the PATH environment variable. Following steps to follow:

1. Locate Python Installation: Find the Python installation folder. If default path was selected during installation then it should be in directory like C:\Python3x or C:\Users\ComputerName\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python3x.
2. Add both Python interpreter and Python Scripts folder to system PATH
3. Restart Command Prompt: Close and reopen Command Prompt windows for the changes to take effect. This time it should be able to run Python either with python or python3.

What could be the possible reasons if Python 3 installation fails on Windows?

Python 3 installation can fail on windows because of multiple reasons.

• Permissions Issue – To successfully install and configure an application, we generally require administrative privilege. Run the installation with administrative access.
• Corrupted Installer – Reevaluate the installer. Always download the python installer from Python official website and verify the MD5 code for it. Re-download the installer from the official Python website.
• Security Interference – Sometimes security policy or antivirus software might block the installation process. Temporarily disable security policy or antivirus software during installation.
• Pre-existing Python Installation – If another version of Python already installed and new installation get conflicted with previous Python version. Uninstall the older Python version or change the installation path for new version.
• Disk Space: Insufficient disk space can cause the installation to fail. Ensure to have enough space on the drive where Python is being installed.

What is pip, and how do you ensure it is installed with Python 3?

pip is Python’s package manager, which allows you to install and manage additional Python libraries and packages.

pip generally get installed by default with Python 3. To ensure pip gets installed with Python 3, make sure the box labeled “Install pip” is checked during the Python installation process. Once Python 3 installation is complete, verify pip is installed. Open Command Prompt with administrator access and type pip --version. This command should return the pip version number.

Test Your Knowledge: Practice Quiz

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Quiz on Python 3 Installation on Windows

Test Your Knowledge: Python 3 Installation on Windows Quiz

1 / 4

1. Which of the following step is NOT part of Python installation on Windows?

Customizing the installation

Downloading the installer

Validating the installation

Installing necessary dependencies for Linux

Explanation:

Installing necessary dependencies for Linux - This step is specific to Linux and involves using package managers like apt or yum to install Python-related dependencies. It is not required for Windows.

Other options:

• Downloading the installer: This is a key step for installing Python on Windows. You download the installer from the official Python website.
• Customizing the installation: During the installation process on Windows, you can customize options like the installation directory, features, and whether to add Python to the PATH.
• Validating the installation: After installation on Windows, you validate it by running Python in the command prompt or checking the version to ensure it is installed correctly.

To learn more, read article - Python 3 Installation on Windows

2 / 4

2. During the installation of Python 3, when you get the option to add Python to the system PATH?

Use Windows Control Panel after installation

Leave the default settings as they are

Select ‘Customize installation’ and modify the default options

Uncheck the option for ‘Add Python to PATH’

Explanation:

When running the installer, you can select ‘Customize installation’ to modify options such as adding Python to the system PATH. If you don’t check this option, you might need to manually set the PATH later, which can lead to complications when trying to run Python from the command line.

Other options:

1. Leave the default settings as they are: This is not recommended if the installer’s default settings do not include adding Python to the PATH.
2. Uncheck the option for ‘Add Python to PATH’: This is incorrect. Unchecking this option would mean Python is not added to the PATH, leading to difficulties in accessing the Python interpreter and scripts from the command line.
3. Use Windows Control Panel after installation: While it is possible to manually add Python to the PATH using Windows Control Panel or through environment variable settings, this approach is not as straightforward as selecting the appropriate options during installation. It's better to set it up correctly from the start.

To learn more, read article - Python 3 Installation on Windows

3 / 4

3. Why its needed to verify the MD5 sum for the downloaded installer?

To automatically update the software

To ensure the download is from a legitimate source and hasn’t been corrupted

To speed up the installation process

To check for installation errors

Explanation:

• Verifying the MD5 checksum ensures that the file you downloaded is authentic and has not been tampered with or corrupted during the download process.
• It is a security measure to confirm the integrity of the installer.

To learn more, read article - Python 3 Installation on Windows

4 / 4

4. What is the first step to install Python 3 on Windows 10/11?

Run the Python installer

Verify the MD5 sum

Customize the installation

Download the latest Python 3 release for Windows

Explanation:

The first step in the installation process is to download the latest version of Python 3 for Windows from the official Python website. This ensures that you have the most up-to-date version with the latest features and security fixes.

Other options:

• After downloading the installer, you can proceed to A) Run the Python installer, where you will be prompted to customize the installation options or directly install Python with default settings.
• B) Verify the MD5 sum is an optional step that some users may perform if they want to ensure the integrity of the downloaded file, but it's not necessary for most users.
• D) Customize the installation can occur after running the installer but is not the first step.

To learn more, read article - Python 3 Installation on Windows

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