If you searched "download Python for Windows," you are probably about to start a course, script, or dev project and want the interpreter Microsoft's Store listing does not fully replace. The Python Software Foundation maintains Python as free, open-source software under the PSF license, funded by donations and sponsorships rather than by charging users. The Windows installer here is the same CPython build used across macOS and Linux, so scripts and syntax behave identically once installed. This page covers the installer plus the one setup step almost every beginner misses.
The PATH Checkbox Everyone Misses
The Windows installer has an easy-to-miss checkbox — "Add python.exe to PATH" — that must be ticked during setup, or the python command will not work from Command Prompt or PowerShell afterward. Multiple Python versions can coexist on Windows using the py launcher (py -3.12, for example) instead of overwriting each other.
pip, the package manager, is bundled automatically with the installer, so no separate download is needed to start installing libraries.
Who ends up using Python
Students, data analysts, and automation scripters installing their first interpreter start with Python.
- Students working through programming courses and coding bootcamp exercises
- Data analysts running scripts and notebooks for cleaning and visualizing datasets
- Office workers automating repetitive spreadsheet or file-renaming tasks with short scripts
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about Python before you request the link: it covers Windows, macOS and Linux, so pick the right build for the machine you're setting up. And on pricing, Python is open source, so the installer is free with no trial timer, feature lock, or upsell screen to click past. It's developed and maintained by Python Software Foundation.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
- macOSa recent macOS release — check the download page for the current minimum version, since Apple Silicon vs Intel builds sometimes differ
- Linuxmost current 64-bit distributions; look for a native .deb/.rpm/AppImage or a package in your distro's own repository
Heavier workloads (large files, high-res media, big projects) will naturally want more RAM and a faster CPU/GPU than the bare minimum.
Quick steps
- Download the official Windows installer (64-bit for modern PCs)
- Run it and check "Add python.exe to PATH" before clicking Install
- Open Command Prompt and type python --version to confirm the install
Python: the honest trade-offs
- Same interpreter and syntax across Windows, macOS, and Linux
- pip package manager bundled in for instant installs
- Enormous library ecosystem covering nearly any task
- PATH setup step trips up many first-time Windows installers
- Running multiple versions side by side needs the py launcher
This links straight to the Python Software Foundation's official python.org release, not a third-party or Store repackaging.
Other Developer Tools downloads people search for
Browse the full Developer Tools category →
Keeping Python up to date
Since Python is open source, most Linux distributions keep it current through their own package manager. On Windows/macOS, re-running the installer from the official site (or an updater built into the app, if it has one) gets you the latest release. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main Python page.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the python command work after I installed it?
This almost always means the "Add to PATH" checkbox was left unticked during install; re-run the installer and use the Modify option to fix it.
Can I install multiple Python versions on the same Windows PC?
Yes, the py launcher that ships with the installer lets you target specific versions side by side without conflicts.
