How to install python on Windows 11 using cmd

To install Python on Windows 11 using cmd, run winget install 9NQ7512CXL7T -e --accept-package-agreements in Command Prompt, reopen the window, and run py install default.

That installs the official Python install manager and then the latest stable Python 3. Below you will find the silent python.org installer route, a first test script, virtual environments, updates, PATH fixes and a clean uninstall.

The fastest way to install Python from Command Prompt

The Python documentation names WinGet as the easiest scripted route, and WinGet ships with Windows 11. No administrator prompt is needed, because the install manager and its runtimes install per user.

1. Press Start, type cmd, and select Command Prompt.
2. Run winget install 9NQ7512CXL7T -e --accept-package-agreements to install the Python install manager from the Microsoft Store source.
3. Close Command Prompt and open a new one so the new python and py commands are found.
4. Run py install default to download and install the latest stable Python 3 release.
5. Run python --version. A line such as Python 3.14.7 means Python is ready.

Before you start

Two quick checks in Command Prompt save most failed installs: confirm WinGet works, and find out whether an older Python is already on the PC.

Check	What to run or do	What you should see
Open Command Prompt	Press Start, type cmd, press Enter	A prompt such as C:\Users\<you>>
Is WinGet available?	winget --version	A version number. "Not recognized" means App Installer needs updating from the Microsoft Store
Is Python already installed?	python --version and py list	A version or a table of runtimes. If python opens the Microsoft Store instead, no Python is installed yet
Where does an existing Python live?	where python	One path per match, in the order Windows searches them
Admin rights	Not required for the install manager or a just-for-me install	Only an all-users install asks for approval
Internet access	Needed for WinGet, py install and the web download	Offline installs need an index prepared on another PC

If WinGet is new to you, the general walkthrough in How To Install Apps On Laptop & PC On Windows covers searching and installing other apps the same way.

Which method should you use?

Your situation	Use this	Why
New install on a personal PC	Method 1: WinGet and the install manager	python.org's recommended installer; updates and several versions from one py command
You want the classic python.org installer and PATH set in one go	Method 2: silent installer from cmd	PrependPath=1 adds Python and its Scripts folder to PATH during setup
You follow Microsoft's Windows developer setup guide	winget install Python.Python.3.14	The package ID Microsoft Learn uses for Python 3.14
You want to move to Python 3.16 or later when it ships	Method 1	The full installer is deprecated and will not be produced for Python 3.16 or later
Windows Server 2019 or a tool that cannot install MSIX	The install manager MSI from python.org	It is the only supported option where MSIX is unavailable

Method 1: Install Python using winget in Command Prompt

WinGet can install either the Python install manager or a single Python version. The install manager is the route python.org now recommends, so start with it.

1. In Command Prompt, run winget --version to confirm WinGet responds.
2. Run winget search Python.Python to see the Python packages WinGet offers, with their IDs and versions.
3. Run winget install 9NQ7512CXL7T -e --accept-package-agreements --disable-interactivity to install the Python install manager.
4. Alternatively, run winget install Python.Python.3.14 to install Python 3.14 directly with the traditional installer package.
5. Close Command Prompt and open a new window so the updated PATH and command aliases load.
6. If you installed the install manager, run py install default to add the latest stable runtime. Run py install --configure -y to accept the suggested PATH changes.
7. Run python --version and py list to confirm the runtime is installed.

Typing python with no runtime installed also triggers an automatic install of the latest release, but py install is the explicit and predictable command. To add a specific version, run py install 3.13; py list --online shows every version available.

Method 2: Install Python from the official installer using cmd

This route downloads the python.org installer with the curl tool built into Windows 11 and runs it silently. The full installer is deprecated since Python 3.14 and will not exist for 3.16, so treat it as a 3.14 or 3.13 option.

1. In Command Prompt, run cd %USERPROFILE%\Downloads to work in your Downloads folder.
2. Run curl -O https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.14.7/python-3.14.7-amd64.exe to download the 64-bit installer. On an ARM64 PC, use python-3.14.7-arm64.exe in both places instead.
3. Run start /wait python-3.14.7-amd64.exe /quiet InstallAllUsers=0 PrependPath=1 Include_test=0 to install for your account with no windows. start /wait holds the prompt until setup finishes.
4. For an all-users install in C:\Program Files, open Command Prompt as administrator and use InstallAllUsers=1 instead.
5. Close Command Prompt and open a new one so the new PATH entries load.
6. Run python --version to confirm the install.

Replace /quiet with /passive to see a progress bar without any prompts. /log install.log writes a log file you can check if setup fails.

To install the Python install manager from its python.org package instead of the Store, run powershell -Command "Add-AppxPackage -AppInstallerFile https://www.python.org/ftp/python/pymanager/pymanager.appinstaller". Python's documentation recommends this only when the Store or WinGet route is not possible.

Understanding python, py, and pip on Windows

Windows gives you three related commands, and knowing which one to type avoids most "wrong version" surprises.

Command	What it does	When to use it
python	Launches the default runtime, an active virtual environment, or the version a script requests	Everyday use: python script.py
py	Same as python by default, plus -V:<tag> to pick a version and subcommands such as py install, py list and py uninstall	Several versions installed, or managing runtimes
pymanager	Same as py, but with no arguments it shows help instead of launching Python	Scripts that must not clash with an older py launcher
pip	Installs packages from PyPI	Prefer python -m pip install <package>, which always targets the Python you mean
python3	Mimics python to catch commands copied from Linux or macOS	Not recommended for regular use on Windows
pythonw / pyw	Windowed versions that do not open a console	Launching GUI scripts

To run a specific version, type py -V:3.13 script.py. For official releases the V: can be dropped, so py -3.13 script.py works too.

Test your Python installation with a simple script

A version number proves the command exists. Running a real file proves the interpreter works end to end.

1. Run mkdir %USERPROFILE%\pytest and then cd %USERPROFILE%\pytest to create and enter a project folder.
2. Run echo print("Hello from Python") > hello.py to create a one-line script.
3. Run python hello.py. The window should print Hello from Python.
4. Run python -m pip --version to confirm pip is present and see which Python it belongs to.
5. Run where python if the wrong version answers. The first path listed is the one Command Prompt uses.

Set up a virtual environment

The Python documentation recommends one virtual environment per project. Packages installed inside it stay out of your main Python and cannot break other projects.

1. In your project folder, run python -m venv .venv to create the environment.
2. Run .venv\Scripts\activate.bat to activate it in Command Prompt. The prompt now starts with (.venv).
3. Run python -m pip install requests to install a package inside the environment only.
4. Run python -m pip list to see what the environment contains.
5. Run deactivate to return to your normal Python.

In PowerShell, activate with .venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1 instead of the .bat file.

Install Python updates using cmd

The update command depends on how Python was installed. The install manager updates itself automatically, but the Python runtimes it manages are updated only when you ask.

1. Run py list --online to see the newest versions available to the install manager.
2. Run py install --update to update every runtime the install manager handles to its newest release.
3. For a WinGet package such as Python.Python.3.14, run winget upgrade to list apps with updates, then winget upgrade --id Python.Python.3.14 -e.
4. For a copy installed with the python.org installer, download the newer installer with curl -O and run it with the same options you used before.
5. Run python --version in a new Command Prompt window to confirm the new version.

An update through py install --update removes packages installed globally into that runtime, but virtual environments keep working. That is one more reason to install packages inside a venv.

How to add Python to PATH manually

Add a folder to PATH only when python or a package command is not found. The folder depends on the install route: the install manager puts global commands in %LocalAppData%\Python\bin, and a just-for-me python.org install lives in %LocalAppData%\Programs\Python\Python314 with its own Scripts subfolder.

1. Run py install --configure -y first if you use the install manager. It checks your setup and offers to fix PATH for you.
2. To do it by hand, press Start and search for Edit environment variables for your account.
3. Under User variables, select Path and click Edit.
4. Click New and paste %LocalAppData%\Python\bin for the install manager, or both %LocalAppData%\Programs\Python\Python314 and %LocalAppData%\Programs\Python\Python314\Scripts for a python.org install.
5. Click OK in each window.
6. Open a new Command Prompt and run where python to confirm the new folder appears.

Keep the %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps entry in your user PATH. Windows adds it by default, and without it the python and py aliases of the install manager are not found.

Fix common Python installation problems on Windows 11

Typing python opens the Microsoft Store or says the command is not found

No runtime is installed, or the App execution aliases for Python are off or stale.

1. Run py list to check whether any runtime is installed. If none is listed, run py install default.
2. Press Start, open Manage app execution aliases, and make sure Python (default) is on. If it already is, switch it off and on again.
3. Refresh the Python (default windowed) and Python install manager aliases the same way.
4. Check that your user PATH still contains %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps.

winget is not recognized in Command Prompt

App Installer, which provides WinGet, is missing or outdated.

1. Open the Microsoft Store and update App Installer.
2. Open a new Command Prompt and run winget --version again.
3. If WinGet still fails, use Method 2 instead.

py gives a "can't open file" error

The older Python launcher is installed and takes priority over the install manager.

1. Press Start, open Installed apps, and search for Python launcher.
2. Uninstall it, then open a new Command Prompt and run py list.

python and py start different versions

An older python.org install is on PATH ahead of the install manager.

1. Run where python to see which copy answers first.
2. In Installed apps, remove the older Python, or choose Modify and turn off its PATH option.
3. In Manage app execution aliases, make sure the python.exe alias points to Python (default).
4. Run py list to confirm which runtime is the default.

pip is not recognized

No virtual environment is active, or the pip shortcut was not generated.

1. Use python -m pip install <package> instead of plain pip.
2. In a project, run .venv\Scripts\activate.bat first so pip is on PATH.
3. Run py install --refresh to regenerate global shortcuts, and add the folder it names to PATH if it reports one missing.

Uninstall Python from cmd

Remove runtimes before the install manager. Uninstalling the install manager alone leaves every runtime on disk.

1. Run py list to see installed runtimes and their tags.
2. Run py uninstall 3.14 to remove one version, or py uninstall --purge to remove every runtime the install manager handles, including Start menu entries and download caches.
3. Run winget uninstall 9NQ7512CXL7T to remove the install manager itself, or remove Python install manager from Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
4. For a WinGet package, run winget uninstall --id Python.Python.3.14 -e.
5. For a python.org install, run the same installer file with /uninstall, for example start /wait python-3.14.7-amd64.exe /uninstall.
6. Open a new Command Prompt and run where python. No Python paths should remain.

Best practices after installing Python

Practice	How	Why
Use a venv per project	python -m venv .venv	Isolates packages and survives runtime updates
Install packages with python -m pip	python -m pip install <package>	Targets the interpreter you are actually running
Pick versions explicitly when you have several	py -V:3.13 script.py	Avoids running a script on the wrong version
Update runtimes on a schedule	py install --update	Security and bug fixes arrive in point releases
Run py install --refresh after installing tools globally	Regenerates command shortcuts	New package commands are not added automatically
Enable long paths if deep folders fail	Policy Enable Win32 long paths, or LongPathsEnabled set to 1 in the registry	Removes the 260-character path limit Windows applies by default

The long path setting lives under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem and needs administrator rights to change.

Quick command summary

Task	Command
Install the install manager	winget install 9NQ7512CXL7T -e --accept-package-agreements
Install the latest Python	py install default
Install one version with WinGet	winget install Python.Python.3.14
Silent python.org install	start /wait python-3.14.7-amd64.exe /quiet InstallAllUsers=0 PrependPath=1
Check the version	python --version
List installed runtimes	py list
Find the active python.exe	where python
Create and activate a venv	python -m venv .venv then .venv\Scripts\activate.bat
Install a package	python -m pip install <package>
Update runtimes	py install --update
Remove a runtime	py uninstall 3.14

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install Python on Windows 11 using PowerShell?

Use the same commands as in Command Prompt: winget install 9NQ7512CXL7T -e --accept-package-agreements, then py install default in a new window. If you download with curl in Windows PowerShell 5.1, type curl.exe, because curl there is an alias for Invoke-WebRequest.

Can I install Python from Windows Terminal?

Yes. Windows Terminal runs Command Prompt and PowerShell tabs, so every command in this guide works there unchanged. Open a new tab after installing so the updated PATH and Python aliases load.

How do I install Python for VS Code on Windows 11?

Install Python first, then run winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode to add Visual Studio Code. Open VS Code and install the Python extension from the VS Code Marketplace, which adds language support, debugging and linting.

How do I uninstall Python on Windows 11?

Run py uninstall --purge to remove every runtime the install manager handles, then remove Python install manager from Settings > Apps > Installed apps. For a python.org install, run its installer with /uninstall or remove it from Installed apps.

Should I install the 64-bit version of Python on Windows 11?

Yes. python.org offers 64-bit, 32-bit and ARM64 installers; choose 64-bit for Intel and AMD PCs and ARM64 for ARM-based PCs. The 32-bit build exists only for software that specifically needs it.

Is installing Python different on Windows 11 Pro or Home?

No. The install manager, WinGet and the python.org installer work the same on every Windows 11 edition, on a laptop or a desktop. Windows Server 2019 is the only supported Windows version without MSIX support, and it needs the MSI package.

Does Windows 11 come with Python preinstalled?

No. Windows does not include a system Python installation. Typing python before installing one usually opens the Microsoft Store through an app execution alias, which is why the command seems to exist.

Do I need administrator rights to install Python?

No, for a normal install. The install manager and its runtimes install per user, and the python.org installer's default install needs no admin rights. An all-users install into Program Files does ask for approval.

Which Python version should I install on Windows 11?

Install the latest stable Python 3 release, which is Python 3.14.7 at the time of writing. py install default always picks the newest stable version, so you do not need to look it up.

Conclusion

Install the Python install manager with winget install 9NQ7512CXL7T and add Python with py install default. It is python.org's recommended route, needs no admin rights, handles updates and several versions from one command, and keeps working after the full installer stops at Python 3.15.