How to Install Python

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Python is a popular programming language known for its simplicity and versatility. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install Python on your computer. Whether you are using Windows, macOS, or Linux, this comprehensive installation guide will help you get started with Python. Let's dive into the detailed steps for each operating system.

Installing Python on Windows

If you are using a Windows operating system, follow these steps to install Python:

Step 1: Download the Python Installer

1. Open your web browser and go to the official Python website: python.org
2. Click on the Downloads tab.
3. The website will automatically detect your operating system. Click on the Download Python xxx button to download the Python installer (where xxx is the latest version number).

Step 2: Run the installer

1. Find the downloaded installer file on your computer. It will usually be in your Downloads folder.
2. Double-click on the installer file to run it.
3. A Python setup window will open. Check the box that says Add Python xx to PATH (this enables you to run Python from the command line).
4. Click on the Install Now button.

Step 3: Complete the installation

1. The installer will download and install the required components. This may take a few minutes.
2. After the installation is complete, you will see a message saying setup was successful. Click the Close button to exit the installer.
3. You can verify the installation by opening a command prompt (press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter). Type python --version and press Enter. You should see the installed Python version.

Installing Python on macOS

If you are using the macOS operating system, follow these steps to install Python:

Step 1: Download the Python Installer

1. Open your web browser and visit the official Python website: python.org
2. Click on the Downloads tab.
3. The website will automatically detect your operating system. Click on the Download Python xxx button to download the Python installer.

Step 2: Run the installer

1. Locate the downloaded installer file in your Downloads folder.
2. Double-click the installer file to open it.
3. A Python xxx window will appear. Click on the Continue button to proceed.

Step 3: Follow the installation steps

1. The installer will guide you through the necessary steps. Read the license agreement and click Continue.
2. Click Agree to accept the license agreement.
3. Click Install to begin the installation. You may need to enter your macOS password to authorize the installation.
4. The installer will copy the required files to your computer. After the installation is complete, click the Close button.

Step 4: Verify the installation

1. Open the Terminal application (you can find it using Spotlight search or in the Utilities folder within Applications).
2. Type python3 --version and press Enter. You should see the installed Python version displayed.

Installing Python on Linux

If you are using Linux operating system, follow these steps to install Python:

Step 1: Update the package list

1. Open the Terminal application on your Linux system.
2. Update the package list by running the following command:
sudo apt update
3. You may be asked to enter your password. Type your password and press Enter, then wait for the update to complete.

Step 2: Install Python

1. To install the latest version of Python, run the following command:
sudo apt install python3
2. Confirm the installation by typing 'Y' and pressing Enter when prompted.
3. The package manager will download and install Python. This may take a few minutes.

Step 3: Verify the installation

1. Once Python is installed, you can verify the installation by running the following command:
python3 --version
2. You should see the installed Python version displayed.

Setting up the Python virtual environment

After installing Python, you may want to set up a virtual environment. A virtual environment helps you manage dependencies separately for different Python projects. Follow these steps to create a virtual environment:

Step 1: Install Virtualenv

1. First, you need to install the virtualenv package. Open your command prompt or terminal.
2. Run the following command to install virtualenv:
pip install virtualenv

Step 2: Create a virtual environment

1. Go to the directory where you want to create your virtual environment.
2. Run the following command to create the virtual environment:
virtualenv myenv
Replace myenv with the name you want for your virtual environment.
3. This will create a directory with the name of your virtual environment containing the required files.

Step 3: Activate the virtual environment

1. To activate the virtual environment, run the following command:
On Windows:
myenv\Scripts\activate
On macOS/Linux:
source myenv/bin/activate
2. After activation, you will see the name of your virtual environment in the command prompt or terminal.

Writing and Running Your First Python Program

Now that you have Python installed, let's write and run a simple Python program.

Step 1: Create a Python File

1. Open a text editor of your choice (like Notepad, Visual Studio Code or any other code editor).
2. Create a new file and name it hello.py.

Step 2: Write Your Python Code

1. Type the following line of code in the hello.py file:
print("Hello, World!")

Step 3: Save the file

1. Save the file with a .py extension to indicate that it is a Python file.

Step 4: Run Your Python Program

1. Open your command prompt or terminal.
2. Use cd command to go to the directory where you saved the hello.py file.
3. Run the Python program by typing the following command:
python hello.py
4. You should see the output: Hello, World!

Conclusion

In this guide, we have covered the steps to install Python on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. We also discussed how to set up a virtual environment and write a simple Python program. Python is a powerful and easy-to-learn programming language that is widely used in various fields from web development to data science. By installing Python on your computer, you can start exploring its many features and create your own projects.

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