Today when I tried to run simple code on Sublime Text 3, the following message appeared:
Python was not found but can be installed from the Microsoft Store: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?linkID=2082640
And when I type Python in CMD, it opens the Windows Store for me to download Python 3.7. This problem started today for no good reason. I didn't change or download anything about Python and already tried reinstalling Python, and the Path environment variable is correct.
Use the Windows search bar to find "Manage app execution aliases". There should be two aliases for Python. Unselect them, and this will allow the usual Python aliases "python" and "python3". See the image below.
I think we have this problem when installing Python because in a new Windows installation the aliases are in the ON position as in image below. When turned on, Windows puts an empty or fake file named python.exe and python3.exe in the directory named %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps. This is the alias.
Then Microsoft put that directory at the top of the list in the "Path" environment variables.
When you enter "python" in cmd, it searches the directories listed in your "Path" environment variables page from top to bottom. So if you installed Python after a new Windows 10 install then get redirected to the Windows Store, it's because there are two python.exe's: The alias in the App Execution Alias page, and the real one wherever you installed Python. But cmd finds the App execution, alias python.exe, first because that directory is at the top of the Path.
I think the easiest solution is to just check the python.exe and python3.exe to OFF as I suggested before, which deletes the fake EXE file files. Based on this Microsoft Devblog, they stated they created this system partially for new Python users, specifically kids learning Python in school that had trouble installing it.
Creating this alias was to help kids just starting Python to install it and focus on learning to code. I think Windows probably deletes those aliases if you install Python from the Windows App Store. We are noticing that they do not get deleted if you manually install from another source.
(Also, the empty/fake python.exe is not really empty. It says 0 KB in the screenshot, but entering "start ms-windows-store:" in cmd opens the Windows App Store, so it probably just has a line with that and a way to direct it to the Python page.)
Finally, as Chipjust suggested, you can create a new alias for Python using something like DOSKEY as explained in this article for example:
How to set aliases for the command prompt in Windows
The main problem here is that the order in the path calls the windows from top to bottom, and that there is python.exe in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps which is called first if there are no other python.exes in the PATH above that line.
To ensure that the correct python.exe is called, add the Python interpreter installation folder (containing python.exe) to the PATH, above %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
Here is an example:
To get to this location, click "Start" → start typing "Env" → Select "Edit the system environment variables" → "Environment variables" button → Select the entry for "Path" in the upper list → Click "Edit".
Python components should be at the top, as in step 5. If not, move them up by pressing the button in step 6.
If the Python interpreter is already installed, then go to Apps & features from settings, select Python, and then select modify.
Again select modify and select Next:
Then this window will appear:
Select "add Python to environment variable" and click on the install button. Then again go to apps & features, click modify and click Repair.
Now go to CMD and type Python.
Problem solved.
This is a PowerShell script that does the magic.
Remove-Item $env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\python*.exe
I had problems with this as well, where Windows didn't recognize Python or Anaconda in a double click or cmd (command) prompt.
Problem: unable to import libraries in "python" cmd in Windows. Instead the Windows "python" cmd took users somewhere they don't want to go.
Problem Cause: In Windows "Environmental Variables", Windows adds a python.exe and python3.exe (I don't know where these link to) in the "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps" directory.
Solution: I tried deleting the python*.exe files in the WindowsApp directory, but Windows wouldn't allow it, so I opened a command prompt in the "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps" directory and typed:
del python.exe
del python3.exe
Then I created an environment variable linking to the installed Python interpreter link. In my case, it was C:\Anaconda3; C:\Anaconda3\Scripts, and some others for good measure.
Because this is a common issue and this appears to be the canonical question, I want to try to give a complete overview of The Python 3.7 Windows Store Fiasco (TM).
Why is it possible for this to happen?
A convergence of two things: the previous introduction of the Python Launcher for Windows in 2011 (hereafter py), and a Windows 10 update in May 2019 that was apparently intended to make installing Python easier for Windows users.
Oops. Turns out that installation path isn't great; it bypasses the "lengthy" setup wizard... which contains some options that some users find very useful. It caused other issues, too. Not to mention that it just works in slightly non-standard ways, has limitations on file system access because it's a Store app, initially couldn't itself be launched by py....
Okay, but why do those factors result in the problem?
Since the introduction of py, by default, Windows Python installers do not add the new Python install to the PATH. Why? Because the entire point of py is that it uses its own logic to find a Python installation, based on some combination of command-line switches and possibly the source file's own shebang line. Now your source files can be associated with py instead of any particular python.exe, and you can get Linux-like behaviour when double-clicking a file. Meanwhile, by running py at the command line, you have easy access to whatever you need, and you don't have to think about which version of Python was installed most recently. So there's seemingly no good reason to put any of those Python installations on the PATH. It only risks confusing you when, for example, the most recently installed version isn't the most up-to-date one. Right?
In the update, Windows 10 put a "python.exe" into a Windows Apps-related folder, which is a wrapper app to open a Microsoft Store link. The idea is that it's on the PATH, but way near the end; so if you have an installed Python, it gets used, and otherwise the wrapper is invoked and helpfully prompts you to install Python - so that you can actually run that random, totally trusted .py file your friend sent you on Discord.
And it would work perfectly, if your installed Python were on the PATH.
Oops.
(But, you know, py had been introduced around 8 years prior. You'd think someone at Microsoft would have been aware of the potential issue. Maybe instead of a special shortcut link, they could have made an actual script that checks for the presence of C:\Windows\py.exe or something.)
So what are my options?
You can check the option to add new Python versions to the PATH when you install them, and deal with the fact that python at the command line means a specific one of them. If you need to change that, you can manually tweak your PATH variable.
You can just manually tweak the PATH variable after the fact. (or "Modify" a Python installation to fix it.) This is covered in several other answers.
Independently of that, you can disable the wrappers, as shown in the top answer. You should probably do this anyway; seeing python fail at the command line is less aggravating than dealing with a random GUI window popping up and offering to install something for you, especially when you know you have it already.
If you want to keep the PATH empty, consider using virtual environments for your projects. Whenever a virtual environment is active, the PATH is temporarily modified such that python means the Python installation of that environment. It's quite convenient, really.
You might be able to tell your IDEs to use py instead of a specific Python installation, and it might even be helpful to do so. I don't know. I don't use one.
As a person who does Python development in Sublime Text, I know you said the Python interpreter path was correct, but when you install the Python interpreter make sure to tick the option to add Python to PATH.
I had the same issue back in the day till I did this.
You can manually add Python to the Windows path by doing this:
Start the Run box and enter sysdm.cpl
Go to the Advanced tab and click the Environment Variables button
Now you’ll need to locate the relevant Python paths
Here is how a Python application path looks like:
And this is how a Python Scripts path looks like:
Select the Path variable, press edit and add both paths (Python application and Python Scripts)
If it doesn't show, press new instead of edit and fill the New User Variable box
This is how my Variable value looks like:
C:\Users\Ron\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37-32;C:\Users\Ron\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37-32\Scripts
That’s it! You just added Python to the Windows Path.
Source: Data To Fish
So, I had the same problem.
My answer was to add python to PATH not only for User variables, it was there, but also for System variables. And now everything works.
So, I've got the same problem in VENV.
I solved it by typing >> python**.exe**
But to add every time .exe a little bit nervous.
Also try to type python.exe in cmd.
This is an additional note for anyone using pyenv-win: after turning off the application execution aliases, run pyenv rehash. You may also need to close/reopen your CMD or PowerShell window.
I have put together a powershell snippet, which reorders WindowsApps and Python folder so that Python is first. Run this as Admin:
$appsFld="$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps";
$pyPath=(Resolve-Path "$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python*\")
$Env:Path = (($Env:Path.Split(';') | Where-Object { $_ -ne "$appsFld" }) -join ';');
$Env:Path = (($Env:Path.Split(';') | Where-Object { $_ -ne "$pyPath" }) -join ';');
$Env:Path += ";$pyPath";
$Env:Path +=";$appsFld";
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "$Env:Path", "Machine")
Then I can run python just fine:
> python
Python 3.10.7 (tags/v3.10.7:6cc6b13, Sep 5 2022, 14:08:36) [MSC v.1933 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> quit
Adding a bit to the question. Even when I typed pip freeze, it wasn't showing anything.
Here's what I did:
There were multiple instances for the Python application in /AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowApps.
I deleted those and then it worked.
I was trying to run a Python script via Mac's Automator and the command is very straight forward:
"cd /Users/myname/Desktop/project && python3 myprojectapp.py".
However, every time I tried to run it, Automator raised an error such as ModuleNotFoundError. This was however, impossible since I had all libraries (e.g. Pandas) installed and running the command in the Terminal as written above worked flawlessly.
Now, I've read somewhere for a similar problem to just include:
"export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH" before the command and it worked. Now, before I go on with my life, I would like to understand what exactly this extra line does and how it affects Automator to the point of making the script work.
Thank you in advance!
That command basically modifies the environment variable PATH and puts the directory /usr/local/bin before everything that is currently in PATH. However, that command is temporary, and the environment variable PATH is restored when the session closes.
What could be happening is the python you're running in terminal and the python Automator is running are different./usr/local/bin probably contains the same python version as you are using in terminal. Take a look at ~/.bash_profile to see if something similar to export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH is in there.
Another way to check is to type which python in both and see if it points to the same python. You probably have yet another python somewhere in the list of directories in your PATH variable.
It's common to use virtual python environments to keep track of which python is running and to experiment with python without messing with system python. Examples of these include: Anaconda and virtualenv.
I have started to use Spacemacs to edit python files and also to use org-mode, but now I want to run python from Spacemacs instead of running Anaconda Prompt.
I've written this in .spacemacs file with SPC f e d:
(defun dotspacemacs/user-init ()
"Initialization function for user code.
It is called immediately after `dotspacemacs/init', before layer configuration
executes.
This function is mostly useful for variables that need to be set
before packages are loaded. If you are unsure, you should try in setting them in
`dotspacemacs/user-config' first."
(setq python-shell-interpreter "C:/Users/Mahesvara/Documents/Personal_Documents/Programs/Anaconda3/python.exe")
)
But when I try to run the script with C-c C-p it gives the following error: Searching for program: No such file or directory, python
I am not entirely familiar with Spacemacs on Windows, but here is my go at this...
Command line is not a shell
Note that anaconda prompt is not a shell, it is an command prompt interface to anaconda (see here).
Windows uses cmd. Spacemacs, Unix, and Python use shells, and are a completely different interface.
Welcome to Spacemacs
What you put in that variable shouldn't be a file path. It should be a name of a program.
Emacs has a list of places where executable are stored.
This variable is called exec-path.
Here is how to set it.
I would recommend not modifying it, but viewing it
(print exec-path)
There then needs to be a python shell in one of those paths (i.e. python, ipython, etc.).
A more experienced Windows developer may want to disagree with this. But it may be helpful to install some Babun/Cygwin shell to install python with. Especially if you are using Spacemacs. This would allow you to run in a more Unix-y environment which works better for Spacemacs. Just make sure the home directories match up.
Once you have a python shell program installed in one of the exec-path's,
You should be able to:
(setq python-shell-interpreter "python")
Change python to whatever python shell you chose.
I just downloaded and installed Python 2.7.2 to my laptop and I am trying to run some sample programs. My laptop is running Windows XP.
When I open a cmd window and type python I get:
'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
I am not a Windows person (mostly mainframes). However I am guessing that there is some command that I need to execute to define python as a command. Can anyone tell me what that command is?
The installer placed Python at C:\Python27\.
You need to add the python executable path to your Window's PATH variable.
From the desktop, right-click My Computer and click Properties.
In the System Properties window, click on the Advanced tab.
In the Advanced section, click the Environment Variables button.
Highlight the Path variable in the Systems Variable section and click the Edit
button.
Add the path of your python executable(c:\Python27\). Each different directory is separated with a
semicolon. (Note: do not put spaces between elements in the PATH. Your addition to the PATH should read ;c:\Python27 NOT ; C\Python27)
Apply the changes. You might need to restart your system, though simply restarting cmd.exe should be sufficient.
Launch cmd and try again. It should work.
This is because the Python exec are not in the search path of your operating system. In windows, start CMD. Type in
setx PATH PythonPath
where PythonPath is usually C:\Python27 or C:\Python33 or C:\Users\<Your User Name>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37 depending on your Python version. After restarting the CMD, you should get see outcomes when typing
Python --version
Python comes with a small utility that fixes this. From the command line run:
c:\python27\tools\scripts\win_add2path.py
Make sure you close the command window (with exit or the close button) and open it again.
Just another clarification for those starting out. When you add C:\PythonXX to your path, make sure there are NO SPACES between variables e.g.
This:
SomeOtherDirectory;C:\Python27
Not this:
SomeOtherDirectory; C:\Python27
That took me a good 15 minutes of headache to figure out (I'm on windows 7, might be OS dependent). Happy coding.
I had the same problem for a long time.
I just managed to resolve it.
So, you need to select your Path, like the others said above.
What I did:
Open a command window. Write set path=C:\Python24 (put the location and the version for your python). Now type python, It should work.
The annoying part with this is that you have to type it every time you open the CMD.
I tried to do the permanent one (with the changes in the Environmental variables) but for me its not working.
You can do it in python installer:
Go to Control Panel / System / "Advanced" tab / Enviromental Variables
Find variable called PATH in the lower list, and edit it. Add to the end C:\Python27
Open a new cmd window and try now.
emphasis: Remember to always RESTART the CMD WINDOW after setting the PATH environmental variable for it to take effect!
in PowerShell enter this:
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$env:Path;C:\Python27",
"User")
Close PowerShell and then start it again to make sure Python now runs. If it doesn’t,
restart may be required.
Further to #Udi post this is what the script tried to do, but did not work with me.
I had to the set the following in the PATH nothing else.
C:\Users\hUTBER\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python35
C:\Users\hUTBER\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python35\Scripts
Were mine and now python works in the cmd
Easy. Won't need to get confused but paths and variables and what to click. Just follow my steps:
Go to the python installer.
Run it.
Out of the 3 options choose modify.
Check py launcher.
Next.
Check "Add python to environment variables"
Install.
Restart the cmd when finished and boom done
If you are trying to install python version python-3.9.6 then click the checkbox of Add Python 3.9 to PATH
Make sure you click on Add python.exe to path during install, and select:
"Will be installed on local hard drive"
It fixed my problem, hope it helps...
Another helpful but simple solution might be restarting your computer after doing the download if Python is in the PATH variable. This has been a mistake I usually make when downloading Python onto a new machine.
After restarting my machine then Windows will often recognize Python in the PATH variable.
I've downloaded python installer from http://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.1.2/ , this python-3.1.2.msi file, I need to execute some python files? How do I do that? For example in php I'd do php filename.php from console, I do however have python command line but I don't know how to execute those files.
So if I could set ENV variable to directly execute my file(s) if that is possible that would be great.
There is an option in the installer called "Register Extensions" to associate Python files with the interpreter, so double-clicking them or entering filename.py in the console should work.
Apart from that you might want to add C:\Python31 to your PATH variable (right-click on My Computer, choose Settings, choose the Advanced Tab - there you can access the system variables. Better do this as an admin.
If you type python in the Windows command line, what happens? Is the Python interpreter in your PATH yet?
If not, add the Python installation directory there (here's a good guide). Then just do python script.py just like with PHP.
you can just execute
python yourfile.py
Or if the python command don't work you have to give the absolute path to you python installation or add it to windows path