How to Install Python and Run Your First Program (Windows, Mac)

Installing Python is easy, but the first screens confuse many beginners. Here is the process step by step, and a way to learn without installing anything.

Direct answer

Download Python from the official site, python.org. On Windows, tick Add python.exe to PATH in the installer, then install. On a Mac, run the installer. Open a terminal and type python --version (Windows) or python3 --version (Mac) to check. Then run a file with python hello.py.

Install on Windows

1. Go to python.org/downloads and download the latest Python 3 installer.
2. Open the installer. On the first screen, tick "Add python.exe to PATH". This is the step beginners miss.
3. Choose Install Now and wait for it to finish.
4. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and type:

python --version

You should see a version number such as Python 3.x.x.

Install on Mac

1. Download the macOS installer from python.org/downloads and open it.
2. Follow the steps.
3. Open Terminal and type:

python3 --version

On a Mac, the command is usually python3, not python.

Run your first program

1. Create a file called hello.py in a folder you can find.
2. Put this inside:

print("Hello, world!")
name = input("What is your name? ")
print("Nice to meet you,", name)

3. Open a terminal in that folder and run:

python hello.py

(Use python3 hello.py on a Mac.)

Pick an editor

• IDLE comes with Python. Open it, choose File, New File, and run with F5. It is enough to start.
• Visual Studio Code is a popular free editor. Install the Python extension to run and debug.
• Any text editor works: Python files are just text.

Common problems

• "python is not recognized": you missed the PATH box. Run the installer again, choose Modify or Uninstall, then reinstall with the box ticked.
• Wrong version on a Mac: use python3.
• Cannot find the file: your terminal must be in the same folder as hello.py. Use cd folder-name to move.
• IndentationError: check the spaces at the start of lines.

Or learn without installing

You do not need to install anything to begin. Many courses and online editors run Python for you. Teyro's Python for Beginners course runs real code in the lesson, in your browser and on your phone, so your first program is a tap away.

Next steps

Once it works, follow the 30-day plan, keep the cheat sheet open, and build your first project.

The bottom line

Install from python.org, tick the PATH box on Windows, check the version and run hello.py. If setup puts you off, start in the browser and install later.