How to Install Python on Windows (Properly)

Introduction

We’ve all been there. You download a piece of software, follow all the prompts faithfully, and then you encounter some weird, unexpected issue.

You then spend hours (or days) on forums banging your head against the wall. Why is everyone intentionally misunderstanding your question to be a troll?

Finally, some amazing person comes along and tells you what went wrong.

Well, I’m here to solve that problem before it even begins.

This installation guide will help you install Python on your Windows machine quickly—and effectively—so you don’t run into unexpected issues later.

Ready? Let’s get started.

Installing Python

Step 1

Visit https://www.python.org/.

Step 2

Hover your cursor over Downloads. A drop-down list appears.

Select Windows from the drop-down list, and click the download button for the latest version of Python. In this case, the button is named Python 3.13.2.

Step 3

The Save As dialog box opens. For quick access, select Desktop as the location for the Python installation package. Click Save.

Step 4

Go to your desktop and double-click the Python installation file. The following installation screen appears. Before you click install, carefully read the following sections. This is where things get tricky, and you’ll want to know your options to make an informed decision.

🚩 Warning: At this point, there are two options for installation that you should be aware of to avoid future issues and conflicts:

• Add python.exe to PATH

• Use admin privileges when installing py.exe

By default, both of these checkboxes are left unchecked. If you want to enable these options, you will need to select these checkboxes manually. But should you?

Should you add Python to PATH?

Opinions are mixed. There are pros and cons to adding Python to PATH. I recommend reading the sources I’ve linked below to make an informed decision about your particular use case.

Adding Python to PATH can cause conflicts with other Python installs. It can also break other programs that use PATH. This means that while Python might work just fine, a completely unrelated program could start acting up because you added Python to PATH, and you wouldn’t know why.

So, if you decide to add Python to PATH, keep this in mind for future troubleshooting.

However, if you don’t add Python to PATH, typing python at the command line on a Windows machine will likely open the Windows Store rather than launch Python. It can also wreak havoc on any code that uses python to execute Python commands.

To overcome this limitation, Windows recommends typing py at the command line to launch Python instead. The benefit of using py is that you can specify the version of Python that you want to launch. You would also need to update any existing code to use py to execute Python commands.

For more information, see:

• Source: “Why Doesn’t Python Add Itself to PATH on Windows?,” Reddit

• Source: “Why Do I Have to Use "py" to Execute Python Commands Instead of "python"?,” Stack Overflow

• Source: “Python 3.12 Installation on Windows,” Python Help

• Source: “How to Run Your Python Scripts and Code,” Real Python

And now, let’s talk about that other checkbox.

Should you use admin privileges when installing Python?

Sure, go ahead. Most of the sources I consulted online suggested it was a good idea to grant admin privileges. That way, you aren’t faced with the task of having to make manual edits to the environment variable later. As long as you’ve downloaded your Python installation file from a trusted source like Python.org, you should be fine.

For more information, see:

Source: “Installing Python,” Medium

Source: "How to Install Python on Windows," Built In

Step 5

Now it’s time to make your installation choices. Decide whether you want to select Add python.exe to PATH and Use admin privileges when installing py.exe or leave them unselected. Then click Install Now.

Step 6

After you click Install Now, wait for the installation to complete. The following screen lets you know your installation is in progress.

Step 7

The following dialog box appears after you have successfully installed Python. Notice that it asks you if you want to disable the path length limit.

• No: If you already know that you don’t want to disable it, click Close, and skip ahead to Step 8.

• Yes: If you already know that you do want to disable the path length limit, click Disable the path length limit. Then click Close, and skip ahead to Step 8.

• Maybe: If you’re unsure whether you should disable it, read the following section. It’ll help you decide if disabling the path length limit is the best choice for your situation.

Should you disable the path length limit?

Opinions are mixed. Disabling the path length limit lets you use longer file path names in Python. Some users on Reddit say it saves you time and confusion in the future if you disable the path length limit now.

As noted by one user on Stack Overflow, “The ‘Disable path length limit’ option refers to the maximum length of the file paths that Windows can handle. Disabling this limit can allow for longer file paths, which can be useful if you are working with files that have very long names or are stored in deeply nested directories. However, it can also cause compatibility issues with some programs, particularly older ones that may not [be] designed to support long file paths. In general, it's usually not necessary to disable the path length limit unless you have a specific need for it. If you're not sure whether you need it or not, it's probably best to leave it enabled.”¹

Source: "Should I Disable Path Length Limit?," Reddit

Source: "Python Setup Disabling Path Length Limit Pros and Cons?," Stack Overflow

Step 8

To confirm Python is installed on your system, click the Search icon on your toolbar.

Step 9

In the search field, type Python. The Python app will show at the top of the search, as shown in the following screenshot.

Conclusion

And that’s it! You have successfully installed Python on your Windows machine.

Happy coding! 🤓

Sources Cited

1. Jamiu S., "Python Setup Disabling Path Length Limit Pros and Cons?," Stack Overflow, December 14, 2022, https://stackoverflow.com/questions/51624449/python-setup-disabling-path-length-limit-pros-and-cons.