How To Install Python On Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide For Beginners

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5 min. read

Published on October 28, 2025

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Python is a versatile and powerful programming language used for everything from web development and data science to scripting and automation. If you’re new to programming or simply want to start using Python on your Windows 11 machine, this guide will walk you through the installation process step-by-step. We’ll cover downloading the installer, configuring the installation, and verifying that Python is working correctly.

This comprehensive guide is designed for beginners, ensuring that even those with no prior experience can successfully install and configure Python on their Windows 11 system. By following these instructions, you’ll be ready to start writing and running Python code in no time. Let’s get started!

Ready to Code? Installing Python on Windows 11

Step 1: Download the Python Installer

Open your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Firefox).
Go to the official Python website: https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/.
Click the “Latest Python 3 Release” button. The website will automatically detect your operating system and offer the appropriate installer.
Choose the appropriate installer for your system. Typically, you’ll want the “Windows installer (64-bit)” unless you know you have a 32-bit system.

Step 2: Run the Installer

Locate the downloaded installer file (usually in your “Downloads” folder).
Double-click the installer file to run it.
Important: Before proceeding, check the box that says “Add Python X.X to PATH” (where X.X is the Python version number). This is crucial for easily running Python from the command line.
Click “Install Now” to begin the installation with default settings, or click “Customize installation” if you want more control over the installation location and features.

Step 3: Customize Installation (Optional)

If you chose “Customize installation” in the previous step:

On the “Optional Features” screen, ensure that “pip” is checked. Pip is the package installer for Python and is essential for installing third-party libraries. You can also select other optional features like “tcl/tk and IDLE” (a basic Python IDE).
Click “Next”.
On the “Advanced Options” screen:

Check “Install for all users” if you want Python to be accessible to all user accounts on your computer.
Check “Add Python to environment variables” (this is the same as checking “Add Python X.X to PATH” in the standard installation).
Choose an installation location. The default location is usually fine, but you can change it if you prefer.

Click “Install”.

Step 4: Verify the Installation

Open the Command Prompt. You can do this by searching for “cmd” in the Windows search bar and pressing Enter.
Type python --version and press Enter.
If Python is installed correctly, you should see the Python version number displayed (e.g., “Python 3.11.4”).
Type pip --version and press Enter.
If pip is installed correctly, you should see the pip version number displayed.
To start the Python interpreter, simply type python and press Enter. You’ll see the Python prompt (>>>).
Type print("Hello, World!") and press Enter. If everything is working correctly, you should see “Hello, World!” printed on the screen.
Type exit() and press Enter to exit the Python interpreter.

Step 5: Installing Packages with Pip

Now that Python and pip are installed, you can use pip to install third-party packages.

Open the Command Prompt.
Type pip install <package_name> (replace <package_name> with the name of the package you want to install). For example, to install the popular “requests” library, type pip install requests and press Enter.
Pip will download and install the package and its dependencies.

Tips

If you encounter errors during the installation process, double-check that you have administrator privileges.
Make sure you have a stable internet connection while downloading the installer and installing packages with pip.
If you have multiple versions of Python installed, you may need to use py -3 or py -2 instead of python to specify which version you want to use.
Consider using a virtual environment to isolate your project dependencies and avoid conflicts. You can create a virtual environment using the venv module: python -m venv myenv. Then, activate it using myenv\Scripts\activate (on Windows).

Python Installation Complete

With these steps, you’ve successfully installed Python on your Windows 11 system and are ready to start coding. Remember to keep your Python installation up to date for the latest features and security enhancements.

FAQ

How do I uninstall Python on Windows 11? Go to “Settings” -> “Apps” -> “Apps & features”, find Python in the list, and click “Uninstall”.

What is pip? Pip is the package installer for Python. It allows you to easily install and manage third-party libraries and packages.

Why is adding Python to PATH important? Adding Python to PATH allows you to run Python from the command line without having to specify the full path to the Python executable.

How do I update Python? Download the latest installer from the official Python website and run it. The installer will typically offer an upgrade option.

What if I get a “Python is not recognized” error? This usually means that Python is not added to your PATH. Double-check that you selected the “Add Python to PATH” option during installation. If not, you may need to reinstall Python or manually add it to your PATH environment variable.