We Keep Coding

python is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

I realize that a lot of people have had this question but I've tried their solutions and they haven't helped me. I watched this video here but his solutions is not helping me:
fix problem
I can get python to work on the python app and using it the path of the python interpreter is
import sys
print (sys.executable)
>>> C:\Users\Owners\Documents\Python
I then set the environment variable like so:
I've also tried attached 'python.exe' but that didn't work either. When I then write python in the terminal I get the error message in the terminal.

You should make a new environment variable in your system variables named PATH if it doesn't already exist then you need to add your python interpreter path to that variable.

Adding Python.exe file in Path won't work as it is just an executable file, also which version of Python have you installed because according to this python 3.9.0 and above won't run on Windows 7 or earlier.If this is not applicable in your case then click on New in your system variables menu and add PATH as name and locate the Python Application Path and Python Scripts Path in folders (i.e where you installed Python) and add it to the newly created PATH

New to Python. Question about running programs [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Adding Python to PATH on Windows
(22 answers)
Closed 2 years ago.
Just dipped my toes into Python this morning and I'm trying to pare down how long of a directory I have to input to run my *.py programs.
My Python install directory is C:\Python\Python39
My work folder is C:\python_work
I made a file called hello_world.py and would like to run it directly from the C:\python_work folder, but it won't let me. It just returns C:\python_work instead of "Hello Python World!".
The book I'm following says I should be able to type C:\python_work>python hello_world.py. That doesn't work. I have to type C:\python_work>C:\Python\Python39\python hello_world.py.
How do I get python to run directly from the python_work directory? I hope what I've written has made sense.
Thanks!
EDIT: PATH option is selected on install. Did that before coming here.

I think the issue you are having is that you do not have python added to your PATH.
You can add it to your PATH by using this set of instructions: https://www.educative.io/edpresso/how-to-add-python-to-path-variable-in-windows.
Or you may want to uninstall and then reinstall python ensuring you check the add to PATH button in the installer.

What happens if you type python --version into your command line? If it returns an error, it likely means that you haven't added Python to your system path.
If you type variables into your windows search, you'll see the entry below. Click on that and add your python directory (C:\Python\Python39\) into the entry called PATH.
Once python is in your path, you should be able to open the python work directory and simply run it with the python command.
# in a new terminal
cd C:\python_work
python hello_world.py

You could try the following:
Write in command line: python --version the output must be some like:
Python 3.8.5
If appers:
'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
You will need add Python to Windows Path variable Add Python to the Windows Path.
To execute your program, you can try with:
> python C:\python_work\hello_world.py
or:
C:\python_work>python hello_world.py

That's because you do not have python on the PATH. To add the python to path see this answer. Of course, you will be doing it for Python3 rather than 2, but the steps are the same. You can find another proper answer from the same topic.

CMD opens Windows Store when I type 'python'

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.

python is not recognised as an internal or external command [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
"python" not recognized as a command
(14 answers)
Closed 2 years ago.
This is a really annoying problem. I've prowled the web for solutions, but all I found was tips about changing the PATH variable, which I did, of course. My Python install directory is C:\Python27. It' a 32 bit version. Whenever I type python in the command prompt, it says that it isn't recognised as an internal or external command. Currently, my PATH variable is set to C:\Python27;C:\Python27\Lib\site-packages\;C:\Python27\Scripts. Anyone has any ideas? I run Windows 7 by the way (64 bit). I'm pretty desperate. Heck, if nothing works I guess I'll try dual-booting Linux and Windows 7...

Just adding the Python path and trying again worked for me (without reboot).
MS-dos command for Python 2.7:
set PATH=%PATH%;C:\python27\
MS-dos command for Python 3.3:
set PATH=%PATH%;C:\python33\
(check if that is the folder where you installed Python).

Quick fix: May not be the most elegant or long term fix but if you are really frustrated and just want to get it to run, just copy paste the python.exe file to your current directory. This worked for me.

After adding the python folder to the system PATH variable, you should reboot your computer.
Another simple solution is: create a shortcut of the python.exe executable (probably it is in C:\Python27\python.exe, or similar) in a place like C:\Windows\system32 (that is, a place that already is listed in the PATH variable). The name of your shortcut should be python (maybe python.exe should work too). I mean, it can't be python - shortcut or similar, for your purposes.
To see the contents of the PATH variable, go to the cmd and enter set PATH.

After changing the PATH variable in windows, you need to reboot your system before it takes effect.
Edit: As stated by #tdelaney, only a restart of cmd.exe should be required. This is true atleast for Windows 7 64bit.

In your PATH have you got a leading space before your Python path?
For example:
"C:\somedirectory\bin; C:\Python27;C:\Python27\Lib\site-packages\;C:\Python27\Scripts"
If you have a leading space between path's "ry\bin; C:\Pyt", it won't work and is usually the cause for this type of issue.

When installing, there is a checkbox that is by default not selected, but it asks to add python to the environment variable. Re-install and check that box.
I'd rather the installer do it than struggle in the weeds myself.

Okay, as you said your Python install directory is C:\Python27, open my computer, then open c: drive,
if you don't see "Python27" named folder there then try to search it using search option, (in my case i found it in old.window folder, don't know how it moved there) cut and past it in c drive along with folders like, program files, user etc... , now open cmd and type python and hit enter to check if it is working now,

This is only a partial answer, but I found (repeatedly) that I'd have similar issues when I would use the gui installer and not go through the custom setup.
Using the custom setup option, then using the same settings, the "install for all users" (that then installs to C://python.version/blah instead of the user based default structure) WOULD allow the installer to setup PATH correctly.

py2exe, problems [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Trying to use py2exe, but python is not recognized
(2 answers)
Closed 5 years ago.
I tried all the steps in this tutorial.
Yet I keep geting this ouput
'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command operable program or batch file.
when I run
python setup.py py2exe
in command prompt
What am I doing wrong?

python.exe is missing in your path. Try to reinstall Python with admin rights or manually add C:\PythonXX\ to your path.

You can also just type out the full path to Python in the command prompt:
c:\pythonXX\python.exe setup.py py2exe

This was happening to e and it was making me soo mad
what i did was go to Start>run and run C:\Python27\python setup.py py2exe
and if your setup.py is in your python directory it should work

the above answer should work but its sometimes especially on a computer with locked down privileges that don't let you mess with path to just use a batch script or even a gui such as GUI2EXE

Assuming you're on Windows, go to:
start > control panel > system and security > system >advanced system settings
Now click environment variables, then the new button under system variables. Set the variable name to PATH(yes, caps. No quotes) and the value to the path of the Python folder under which Python is installed. For me, for example, it is C:\python27.
However, if the installation was user specific it will look more like C:\USER\python27. USER is, of course, filled in with your user account's name.
The number after the name python as the path value will be determined by the version of Python you have.