Download and Install Python on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Here is a step-by-step guide to download and install Python on your Windows, Mac, and Linux:

Table of Contents

Installing Python on Windows

Step 1: Download Python Installer

  1. Go to the official Python website: https://www.python.org/downloads/
  2. Click “Download Python 3.x.x” (the latest stable version).

Step 2: Run the Installer

  1. Locate the downloaded file (e.g., python-3.13.7-amd64.exe) and double-click to open it.
  2. Important: Check the box that says “Add python.exe to PATH” at the bottom of the installer.
  3. Click Install Now.

Step 3: Verify Installation

  1. Open Command Prompt (press Windows Key + R, type cmd, and press Enter).
  2. In the Command Prompt, type the following command and Press Enter:
python --version

Or

py --version

3. If it shows the Python version you just installed (e.g. python-3.13.7-amd64.exe), it is successfully installed.

Installing Python on macOS

Step 1: Download Python Installer

  1. Go to the official Python website: https://www.python.org/downloads/
  2. Click on “Download Python 3.x.x” (the latest stable version). It will download a .pkg installer file.

Step 2: Run the Installer

  1. Locate the downloaded file (e.g., python-3.13.7-macos11.pkg) and double-click to open it.
  2. Click Continue through the introduction and license screens.
  3. Accept the license agreement.
  4. Choose the installation location (default is fine).
  5. Click Install.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

  1. Open Terminal (Cmd + space, type Terminal, and press Enter).
  2. Type python3 --version
  3. You should see the installed Python version (e.g. Python 3.13.7).

Installing Python on Linux

To install Python on Linux, the exact commands depend on your Linux distribution.

Most modern distributions come with Python 3 pre-installed, but you may want to install a different version or the latest one.

Step 1: Check Your Current Python Version

Opern Terminal and check if Python 3 is already installed using the following command:

python3 --version

If you see a version like Python 3.13.7 or similar, it means Python 3 is alredy installed. If not, or if you need a newer version, proceed with the steps below.

Choose the section for your specific Linux distribution (e.g., Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, or CentOS).

For Debian, Ubuntu, and their derivatives

These distributions use the apt package manager.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3 # Installs Python 3
sudo apt install python3-pip # Installs pip, the Python Package manager

For Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL

These distributions use the dnf (or older yum) package manager.

sudo dnf install python3 # Installs the latest Python 3 available
sudo dnf install python3-pip # Installs pip, the Python package manager

For Arch Linux

sudo pacman -S python python-pip

Step 3: Verify Installation

After the installation is complete, close and reopen the terminal. Run the following commands to confirm that Python and pip are ready to use.

1. Check the Python Version

python3 --version

OR

python --version

You should see the Python version you installed (e.g. Python 3.13.7).

2. Check the pip Version

pip3 --version

Or

pip --version

This will show you the version of pip that was installed.