Install Python 3

5 minutes

Caution

This article references CentOS, a Linux distribution that is nearing End Of Life (EOL) status. Please consider your use and plan accordingly. For more information, see the CentOS End Of Life guidance.

In the previous exercise, you ran a command to determine whether you had Python 3 installed. If you need to install Python 3, choose your operating system at the top of this page, and then follow the instructions below.

Once you're certain that Python 3 is installed, you can scroll to the bottom of this page and select Continue.

When this module was written, Python 3.11 was the latest version available, so instructions here refer to that version. Install the latest version of Python that is available for your operating system. If you install a different version, the button labels and the filenames may differ slightly from the installation instructions.

Note

These instructions are specifically for Windows 10 and Windows 11. For more information about installation instructions on different versions of Windows, see the official Python downloads page.

Install Python on Windows from the Microsoft Store

Open the Microsoft Store by selecting Start, and then typing start Microsoft Store.
Once open, search for Python.

You'll find a list of various options.
Select the most recent version of Python.
On the Home tab, select Get or Install.

Note

If you're unable to use the installer because you don't have administrator privileges, download the embeddable package (zip file) of Python from the Python website, and then extract the zip file to a local folder, such as C:\Python311.

Python installs in the background. The installation may take a couple of minutes depending on the speed of your system.
After Python installs, return to the command prompt.
Enter the following command python --version and then select Enter to see the version of Python:
```
python --version
```

Install Python on Linux

The package manager you use depends on the version of Linux. Most popular Linux distributions include either APT (an acronym for "Advanced Packaging Tool") or YUM (an acronym for "Yellowdog Updater, Modified").

We provide instructions for APT and YUM in this unit. If your distribution of Linux uses a different package manager, you might need to search for <your Linux distribution> install python 3.

Install by using APT

If you use APT, you can use these instructions to install Python 3.

Open a terminal window.
Enter the following command to update APT package indexes.
```
sudo apt-get update
```
The apt-get update command updates the list of packages (the package indexes) from the repositories and Personal Package Archives (PPAs) that it's aware of. This update enables apt-get to find the latest versions of the packages that you want to install and their dependencies.

Note

The sudo command temporarily elevates your permissions to root, the most powerful level of the system. When you use sudo, you'll usually be asked for your user account's password.

apt-get update displays all the items it will update. It might prompt you to approve by entering y or yes, and then pressing Enter.
Run the following command to install Python 3 at a Bash prompt
```
sudo apt-get install python3.10
```
Note

apt-get install locates the appropriate packages from the package index, downloads the necessary files, and installs the files into the appropriate folders.
Run the python3command to confirm that Python 3 installed correctly:
```
python3.10 --version
```
The output should contain the word Python with a set of numbers separated by . characters. The following example shows the output you might see.
```
Python 3.10.0
```
As long as the first number is 3, Python 3 installed successfully.

If the installation failed, you might see an error message. Enter the exact error message into browser to find possible causes and solutions.

Install by using YUM

The YUM package manager is used mainly by Red Hat systems, like Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora, and by CentOS. If APT isn't installed on your system, you can try YUM instead.

Open a Terminal window
Run sudo yum update, to update the YUM package indexes
```
sudo yum update
```
yum update will make sure all packages and their dependencies are up to date. It's a good idea to update the package list before you install new software.
Run the following command yum install to install Python 3
```
sudo yum install rh-python3.10
```
Run python3.10 --version to verify installation:
```
python3.10 --version
```
The output includes the word Python with a set of numbers separated by . characters, for example:
```
Python 3.10.0
```
As long as the first number is 3, Python 3 installed successfully.

If the installation failed, you might see an error message; step 5 will help your resolve any error message.

(Optional) Enable the Software Collections feature in Bash

Software Collections enables you to install multiple versions of the same software components on your Red Hat system. When you run the SCL tool, it creates a child process (subshell) of the current shell. Running the command again then creates a subshell of the subshell. When the Software Collections tool is enabled, you need to specify which version of Python you want to run in the shell.

Run the scl enable command at a Bash prompt:
```
scl enable rh-python3.10 bash
```
Again, verify that everything is OK by running python3.10 --version.
```
python3.10 --version
```
The output of that command should resemble the following format:
```
Python 3.10.0
```
As long as the first number is 3, Python 3 installed successfully, in the context of a Software Collection.

scl enable python36 starts a new Bash session, setting Python 3.6 as the default Python version. But Python 3.6 is the default version only for the current shell session. If you exit the session or open a new session from another terminal, Bash will revert to the default Python version.

For more information, see Red Hat Software Collections 3.8.

Important

If you needed to use scl enable to run python3.10 --version, you might need to run that command every time you want to work in Python. There are workarounds, but this is the intended functionality of Software Collections. See Make a Red Hat Software Collection persist for a possible workaround.

Install Python on macOS

Follow these steps to download the Python installer from the Python website.

Note

You can use Homebrew to install Python and Visual Studio Code. For instructions, see Homebrew documentation.

Download the installer from Python download page.

The website should automatically direct you to a page specifically for macOS. Select the latest release.

You may see a dialog box prompting you to allow downloads from python.org. Select Allow.

After a moment, a file named python-3.10.2-macos11.pkg (or similar) should download to the Downloads stack in your Dock.
To start the installer, double-click the .pkg file that you downloaded. The Python installer prompts you to install, verify, and accept various options and license agreements. Take the time to read through these prompts to understand what the installer will do to your computer.

When the installation process finishes, a Finder window showing the contents of the Python folder and a congratulations screen appear. Select Close to close these windows.

If you're prompted to move the Python installer to the trash, you can do so.
Verify installation by running python3.10 --version in a terminal window:
```
python3.10 --version
```
The output includes the word Python with a set of numbers separated by . characters, for example:
```
Python 3.10.0
```
As long as the first number is 3, Python 3 installed successfully.

You have now successfully installed Python on your local system.

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