Install and download Python in Windows

How to install Python for Windows users. We will cover two installation methods

• Installing from the MS Store
• Installing using the official Python installer

When you install Python, you're installing a program that interprets and executes your Python code. With that in mind, let's move from how to download Python to how to check your version after you've installed it.

1. MS Store: Download and install Python

Starting with Python version 3.7.2., Windows users can install Python from the MS Store.

I recommend doing this first because it's easier for users to manage installations, uninstallations, etc. using the MS Store. Also, programs installed from the store are managed in a separate folder, so you can avoid conflicts when installing multiple versions of Python.

Installation is easy.

Just follow the link below to the MS Store Python entry and click the Download from store app button to install.

Latest Python version in the MS Store: Python 3.11 - Microsoft Store Applications (opens in a new tab)

If you're familiar with the MS Store, you can do a quick search to find it. Launch the Microsoft Store application and search for python.

You should see the latest version, Python3.11. Click on it to open the details window, then start the download.

2. MS Store: Verify Installation and Version

Once all downloads and installations are complete, click Library at the bottom of the left menu bar.

You will find Python 3.11 in the list of installed applications. Click the Open button to see the Python REPL window running in a CMD window.

Python version 3.11.2 is installed. Installing from the MS Store automatically adds Python to your system PATH. This means that you can run Python with a single command in CMD, PowerShell, or other shell programs without having to enter a long path.

As shown above, Python and its packaged programs, PIP and REPL, will work fine.

3. Official installer: Download and install Python

The second method is to download and install the installer from the official website. The MS Store allows you to install by minor version, i.e. 3.x., but you cannot install by selecting a subversion corresponding to 3.11.y., where y is the number. If you need a specific version of Python, you'll have to download the installation file directly.

Again, the installation is straightforward. Just like downloading and installing any other program. First, go to the official website.

Official website: https://www.python.org (opens in a new tab)

Hover your mouse over Downloads in the blue menu bar just below the Python logo and you'll see a window like the one above. The official website will automatically detect our computer's operating system and prepare the latest version of the 64-bit installer for it. Click on the gray button to download the latest version.

If you want to download an older version, you can also click the View the full list of downloads link to go to the full download page.

Run the downloaded installer and the installation will start as shown below.

Before proceeding to Install Now, don't forget to check Add python.exe to PATH. This is the PATH setting mentioned in the first method. For those who didn't check it on the hook, here's how to register it manually after installation.

This is the screen when the installation process is complete. You can close it with Close without Disable path length limit. You usually don't need this setting, just set it if you do. The installation is now complete.

4. Official installer: Setting Environment Variables

If you didn't get a chance to check the PATH settings during the installation, you can do this manually after the installation is complete. First, search for environment variables in Windows Search.

Click Edit System Environment Variables and click the Environment Variables button in the lower right corner, or Click Edit Account Environment Variables to open a window like the one below.

With the Path variable selected as above, click the Edit button just below it. This opens the Edit Environment Variables window. Click on New to add the 2 paths one by one to make it look like the window below. Change the Python311 part to match your installed version before adding it.

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\Scripts\
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\

5. Official installer: Confirm installation and verify version

If you look at the All Programs list from the Start menu, you can see the newly installed Python program.

6. Conclusion

So far we've seen two different ways to install Python on Windows. Setting up the right development environment is the first step in Python development, so we hope this article has helped you install Python with ease.