Skip to content

Installing Python

To run Python code, your computer needs a Python interpreter: the program that reads and executes the code you write.

Installing Python

On macOS, we use Homebrew. On Windows, we use the official Python install manager. You can check version support on the official Python download page. Unless your project requires a particular version, choose a current stable release.

Status Meaning
Pre-release An alpha, beta, or release candidate for testing an upcoming release.
Bugfix release A stable release receiving bug fixes and security updates.
Security release An older release receiving security fixes, without new features or routine bug fixes.
End-of-life A release that no longer receives support or security updates.

macOS

Homebrew is a tool for installing and managing software from the command line.

  1. If you do not have Homebrew, run the installation command from the official Homebrew website in your terminal. When installation finishes, follow the printed Next steps to add Homebrew to your PATH. Skip this step if Homebrew is already installed.

  2. Install Python:

    brew install python

  3. Check the installation:

    python3 --version

Use python3 to run the Python installed by Homebrew. See Homebrew’s Python documentation for more information.

Windows

  1. Download and install the Python install manager from the Python downloads page for Windows.

  2. Open PowerShell and install the latest stable Python 3 runtime:

    py install 3

  3. Check the installation:

    python --version

Where Python is installed

The interpreter is stored in a particular location on your computer. When you type python or python3, the terminal searches the directories registered in its search path to find that interpreter.

A Python installation available across your computer is often called global Python. You can invoke it from different project folders.

Use these commands to see where Python is found. The result depends on your installation method and account.

$ which python3
/opt/homebrew/bin/python3

This is a typical Apple Silicon Mac path. On an Intel Mac, it is usually /usr/local/bin/python3.

PS> where.exe python
C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\python.exe

Windows may show a launcher or app alias that selects the installed runtime.

Python versions

A version such as Python 3.14.0 has three components. This is an example version, rather than a requirement to install this exact release.

Component Example Meaning
Major 3 A major generation of the language. This guide uses Python 3.
Minor 14 A release that adds features and improvements.
Patch 0 A maintenance release containing fixes.

Different Python 3 minor versions can support different features and library versions. Use the version a project specifies. Otherwise, choose a current stable release.

Exercises

Decide whether each statement is True or False.

  1. Installing Python installs an interpreter that executes Python code.
  2. Libraries installed into a shared global Python environment can affect multiple projects.
  3. In Python 3.13.1, 13 is the major version.
Answers and explanations
  1. True — The interpreter runs the code you write.
  2. True — Projects sharing an environment can be affected by changes to its libraries.
  3. False — 3 is the major version, 13 is the minor version, and 1 is the patch version.