Downloading Python

Before you start, you will need Python on your computer, but you may not need to download it.

First of all check that you don't already have Python installed by entering python in a command line window. If you see a response from a Python interpreter it will include a version number in its initial display. Generally any recent version will do, as Python makes every attempt to maintain backwards compatibility - with the exception that Python 2.x and Python 3.x have some intentional differences.

On Windows, try py first - this is the relatively recent Python Launcher, which has a better chance of avoiding some of the path problems that might occur because on Windows programs don't install into any of the small set of common locations that are searched by default. The Python launcher can also let you select any of the various versions you may have installed from a single command.

If you need to install Python, you may as well download the most recent stable version. This is the one with the highest number that isn't marked as an alpha or beta release. Please see the Python downloads page for the most up to date versions of Python 2 and Python 3. They are available via the yellow download buttons on that page.

For advice on choosing between Python 2 and Python 3 see Python 2 or 3.

If you're running Windows: the most stable Windows downloads are available from the Python for Windows page. On Windows you have a choice between 32-bit (labeled x86) and and 64-bit (labeled x86-64) versions, and several flavors of installer for each. The Python core team thinks there should be a default you don't have to stop and think about, so the yellow download button on the main download page gets you the "x86 executable installer" choice. This is actually a fine choice: you don't need the 64-bit version even if you have 64-bit Windows, the 32-bit Python will work just fine.

If you're running Windows XP: a complete guide to installing ActivePython is at Python on XP: 7 Minutes To "Hello World!". ShowMeDo has two videos for downloading, installing and getting started with Python on a Windows XP machine - this series talks you through the Python, ActivePython and SciPy distributions. Note that the python.org releases only support versions of Windows that are supported by Microsoft (at the time of the release), so no recent release from python.org can be used on WIndows XP.

If you are using a Mac, see the Python for Mac OS X page. MacOS since 10.2 (Jaguar) include a system version of Python, but it is best not to consider this the Python to use for your programming tasks - install a current Python instead. 10.15 (Catalina) is the last MacOS to include a default system Python, as Apple have now deprecated this.

For Red Hat, CentOS or Fedora, install the python3 and python3-devel packages.

For Debian or Ubuntu, install the python3.x and python3.x-dev packages.

For Gentoo, install the '=python-3.x*' ebuild (you may have to unmask it first).

For other systems, or if you want to install from source, see the general download page.