How to Install Python on Windows, macOS and Linux

In this technical guide we will find out how to install Python 3 on your computer quickly and easily. We recommend you always download the latest stable release directly from the official website of Python to ensure maximum safety and compatibility of your development environment.

How to Install Python on Windows #

On the official download page you will find the executable file (.exe) compatible with Windows 32bit and 64bit systems. Just start the file and follow the screen-guided steps. Caution: The “Add Python 3.X to PATH” item is crucial in the very first installation screen. By default, Python will be saved in the C:\Python3X (or in the local directory of your user in the latest versions). At the end of the setup, you can launch the interpreter by browsing Start -> All programs -> Python 3.X -> Python.

Having correctly selected the Add Python to PATH option during installation, you will be able to recall the development environment from the Command Prompt, simply by typing py or py -3.

If you forgot to select this crucial option during setup, no panic: you can add Python to the environment variable manually. Go to Control Panel -> System -> Advanced System Settings -> Environment variables. Scroll system variables, locate the PATH entry and edit it by adding the string corresponding to your installation (e.g. C:\Python3X).

Manual modification of the Variable Path #

To ensure that the system configuration has gone smoothly, open the Command Prompt (Start -> Run -> cmd) and launch the following directive:

echo %PATH%

If the screen response (output) includes the installation folder path (e.g. C:\Python3X), the system recognizes the executable. You can then start programming by typing comfortably py, py -3, or python:

Python Interprete Check and Start #

If successful, you will see an information message with the exact version of the newly configured Python interpreter, followed by the interactive prompt (characterized by the three  >>>  arrows).

For further details or troubleshooting, please consult the official documentation on the use of Python on Windows environments.

How to Install Python on Linux #

In most Linux distributions, Python is a basic preinstalled package. However, it is an excellent practice to verify the presence and version of the software. To do this, open your shell terminal and type:

$ python

or its specific variant:

$ python3

The output will help us understand the status of the system: if both commands return an error, Python is not installed. If python launches an outdated release (Python 2) and python3 is not found, you will need to upgrade. If the input successfully starts Python 3, the environment is already ready to use.

If Python 3 fails, use apt for Debian derivatives (such as Ubuntu) or yum / dnf for Red Hat systems. Alternatively, you can manually download and fill the source code.

$ sudo yum install python3

This command is intended for distributions based on RPM packages, such as Red Hat, Fedora and CentOS.

$ sudo apt-get install python3

Instead, it uses this distribution directive based on Debian architecture, such as Ubuntu.

If you have specific needs and prefer not to rely on repositories, let’s see how to compile Python from the source code.

First, check the availability of the updated source archive on official website. Move to a temporary folder and run commands:

$ cd /tmp

$ wget http://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.x/python-3.x.tar.bz2

This way you will download the .tar.bz2 compressed file containing the entire source code. We proceed with the extraction:

$ tar -xjf python-3.x.tar.bz2

$ cd python-3.x

Just configure and launch the compilation process (build):

$ ./configure

$ make

$ sudo make install

Note for experts: if you want to add the new version to your setup without overwriting the system executable, replace the final command using make altinstall instead of the classic make install.

How to Install Python on macOS (Mac) #

Similar to Linux, the old macOS systems were natively integrated Python. However, if you use a recent version (from macOS Monterey 12.3 forward) Apple has removed the default interpreter. We recommend that you visit directly the portal of Python and download the official package for macOS (.pkg) more suitable for your architecture (Intel or Apple Silicon), then proceed with the installation wizard.

If an old release survives on your Mac, by launching python from the terminal, you can default on the now obsolete version 2.7. To force the start of version 3.X, you will need to configure a “alias” in your bash or zsh profile. Open the terminal and type:

vim ~/.bash_profile

Once you open the text editor for the configuration file (or ~/.zshrc if you use Zsh as the default shell), add the following directive to the bottom:

alias python="python3"

Save the changes. From this moment, simply typing python, macOS will automatically start the modern 3.X interpreter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Python Installation #

Do you need to uninstall the old versions of Python before upgrading? #

In most cases it is not strictly mandatory. The Python ecosystem is designed to coexist multiple versions simultaneously on the same device (by using virtual environments). However, to prevent errors in system paths or library conflicts with the pip package manager, it may be useful to remove very obsolete installations if you no longer need them.

What version to download between Python to 32bit and 64bit? #

It is strongly recommended to install the 64bit version, as it guarantees performance significantly higher for data processing and eliminates bottlenecks related to the use of RAM memory. Install the 32bit version only if your hardware processor is very dated and does not support x64 architecture.

What does the “Add Python to PATH” check on Windows? #

Select the Add Python to PATH option allows your Windows operating system to record the position of the executable globally. This will allow you to launch scripts in Python and install new libraries (using pip) from any folder of the Command Prompt, without being forced to type each time the long path of the root installation directory.