My issue requires some backstory.
I was having some troubles with pip, so I reinstalled Python. After the reinstall pip began to work, but Pycharm, my IDE, could no longer find Python. When I reinstalled Python it created a new folder for itself (Python310), but Pycharm kept looking in the old folder (Python39). I couldn't figure out how to get Pycharm to look in the new folder. Even deleting and reinstalling it did nothing.
So, I renamed Python310 to Python39 and changed the PATH. Now Pycharm can find Python. But pip has developed a new and exciting error. When I try to use it I get the following message:
Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\python.exe" "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\Scripts\pip.exe" install numpy': The system cannot find the file specified.
If I read this correctly pip is still trying to look in Python310. Would you please tell me what I need to do to get pip to looking in the right place?
So, to start. You don't fix this by renaming the folder where the interpreter resides. Even if that worked, it's not a fix. The name will say one thing, but it's actual version, compatible libraries, and anything else tied to the version number would be incorrect.
If you take a close look at the error message from pip, it tells us what's wrong.
Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\python.exe" "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\Scripts\pip.exe" install numpy': The system cannot find the file specified.
You renamed the directory, so your IDE can find it, but pip and everything else using the Python interpreter is still configured to look in the Python39 directory to find it.
The problem you are having is that your IDE, PyCharm, needs to be configured for your project. You have to tell it where the Python interpreter is. The simple solution, you can rename your your Python folder back to it's original state, and add it to your project.
Press Ctrl+Alt+S to open the project Settings/Preferences and go to Project | Python Interpreter. Click the Add Interpreter link next to the list of the available interpreters.
Expand the list of the available interpreters and click the Show All link.
Select the target interpreter.
In your case, look for the one with this file path: "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\python.exe"
I would recommend going one step futher and create an interpreter in a virtual environment. Especially if you are interested in Python beyond a very casual hobby. They are unavoidable.
This link is a good source and can help you with this:
https://www.jetbrains.com/help/pycharm/configuring-python-interpreter.html#interpreter
There, you will find screenshots that follow the steps I listed above. There are also detailed instructions on how to create and add a new interpreter in a virtual environment. The relevant headings are as follows:
Configure a Python interpreter
Python interpreters in PyCharm
Setting an existing Python interpreter
Creating a new Python interpreter
The rest of the content is great as well, and may help answer questions you didn't know you had.
try to uninstall all of the existing python versions. and install it again. using any of application allow you to delete most of files, so to prevent error when re-install .
Option 1:
delete and reinstall again. and then when creating a project it should prompt you to pick a basic interpreter, choose python310 or whatever version you're using.
Option 2:
use a different IDE.
I was trying to download a GUI, but the terminal kept giving me this error:
Python was not found; run without arguments to install from the Microsoft Store, or disable this shortcut from Settings > Manage App Execution Aliases.
I'm trying to install it using this command:
python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools virtualenv
Check your Python version and be sure it is installed on your machine
Check the path environment variable
Go to -> "start" and type "Manage App Execution Aliases". Go to it and turn off "Python"
I was having the same issue and I fixed it by using the below method.
Copy two paths of Python
C:\Users\Maninder\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39
C:\Users\Maninder\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\Scripts
These are the paths where your Python interpreter is installed. Now add this path into your environmental
variable. Put this path into System variable, not in user variable. I was using user variable, so I was facing the issue.
I have a solution for you. Make sure you check the path mark during installation. Then you need to go to Manage App Execution Aliases.
Simply go to your search bar and search for Manage App Execution Aliases. You will find the attached screen and you need to turn off App Installers as you see on the screen. Also, see the path,,, follow Maninder's answer.
Then you are good to go! :)
I had the same issue. In Windows CMD, only: py --version, works.
I tried adding the path on System variables, and it didn't work. If you are using PyCharm as I do, try to run all commands from the IDE's terminal. It usually is on the side bar where the Run and the Console is. If it is not, go to: menu View → Tool Windows → Terminal. It worked just fine for me.
You need to download Python from https://python.org. When in the installation, be sure to check the option that adds Python to PATH.
I haven't gotten this error before and have been using Python a long time, and then suddenly it showed up. I think that it is a result of a Windows update designed to steer you to their store.
In any case: to remedy the problem, go to Settings → app execution aliases → and turn "off" Python. (What they tell you to do, in other words). This should resolve the problem.
If you have installed Python successfully with add python path, ticked on, and have added
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\Scripts
to the path into System variables and have turned off the "aliases" and they all didn't work, you can simply use python instead of python3 in your cmd command.
Check the Aliases for App Execution in Windows. Search for Alias App in your Windows toolbar to find the UI for this. Try turning off anything Python related.
Try adding the following to your "Path" environment variable:
C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37
C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\Scripts
Replace Python37 with your own version.
I solved this problem for Visual Studio Code with just writing "python" in the console:
python
After that, Microsoft Store opens automatically with the Python app:
And I just click Get.
And it all work!
All the previous answers are correct, but in my case, I was getting this, because I was not passing the version...
The fix is passing the version:
py.exe -3 your_program
If you're on Windows, you may want to use the Python installer, in Windows Marketplace.
I faced the same error while using Anaconda and trying to link the Python executable path in the command prompt.
It got rectified by going to Settings → App execution aliases → and turning "off" Python. Then again I had to set the path for Python in Anaconda and was successful in executing "python --version" command.
The same thing happened to me even after trying all the above-mentioned steps.
I just restart my system and it was working fine. Do it and if still doesn't fix the issue then make sure you have checked "add python ( any version ) to PATH" before installing Python.
If none of the previous answers are working, you can check if you have the Python executable in your program files.
Go to C:\Program Files and check if you have the Python application. If not, go to the python download website here and download the .exe file.
While installing you must select "Custom install" and select the location as C:/Program Files.
Install it and it should work now from anywhere. This worked for me!
To sincerely resolve this issue, do the following:
Uninstall the Python instance and reinstall it. Note: Make sure you check
"Add variable PATH".
On the command line, type:
python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools virtualenv
I got this issue when I used Visual Studio Code as the IDE, and Anaconda as my Python compiler. And you don't need to close the "app alias" in settings, but copy your python.exe to python3.exe in your Anaconda folder.
That happened to me. So, to fix it, you have to follow the following steps:
Uninstall the Python version you already installed.
Go ahead and open the installation file to reinstall it again.
Before hitting Install Now, make sure to tick the box in front of Add Python to path.
Go ahead and complete the installation procedure as usual.
Steps for installing Python
The problem is more subtle than it seems.
For example, if you are using Visual Studio Code on the bottom left, you should see Python X.X.X xx-bit (the X is the version).
If you click in there you will see where the IDE is getting the python.exe from.
Locate that folder into your file explorer and then just follow the answer that is saying to change the environments variables.
So copy the path where python.exe is and add it to the Path variable and do the same where the Script folder is (it is in the same directory where the python.exe is).
Then of course make sure your IDE is using the right Python.
None of the answers here worked for me. I did this and the error went away.
For Windows 11 which I was using, I reran the python-3.10.5-amd64.exe file from my downloads directory and then chose to modify the installation.
Then I followed these easy steps.
Make sure the PIP component is checked before proceeding to install.
Then check 'Add Python to environment variables' if it's not checked already.
Proceed to Install.
At this point, your error will be solved
If you already have the Python executable on your machine and you are getting this error in Windows 10, search for the Python executable and copy its path then copy the path in system variables. It worked for me.
to check in windows
py --version
or restart your pc first then put htis command again
I was also facing this issue after installing python, while running command
python --version in command prompt , error as:
Python was not found; run without arguments to install from the Microsoft Store, or disable this shortcut from Settings > Manage App Execution Aliases.
So, i too added
the path in environment variable as shown, and it worked:
I have recently started learning python using code academy and today I downloaded everything that I thought I would use. I downloaded Python and Atom. I have two separate drives on my computer. An SSD with not much storage and a hard drive with a lot of storage. My Windows is installed on the SSD, but I wanted to download python and atom on the hard drive, so I did so. When I installed Python I made sure to check add to PATH and the environmental variable thing. Now when I go to the command prompt, it shows "C:\Users\Gustavo>" but my python is installed on a different drive. Is there a way I could make this work? Thanks a lot.
There are two ways to install python:
Download directly from the website
Use a package manager
Case 1: Download directly from the website
Go to the python's website to download the version you would like to use.
Install the downloaded file (During the installation you can customize the installation directory)
Make sure to enable "Add python.exe to Path"
After installation has been completed, open your command prompt and type where python. Your python directory should be printed.
If all is good, then typing python should launch python in your command prompt. You can also run python by cd in the directory where your python is located and launch the .exe
You have mentioned about changing path and environmental variables, and that's probably for the purpose of keeping multiple versions of python. If that's the case, there's actually a quick fix for this:
Go to the folder where you installed Python.
Copy the python.exe file, and rename that copy in the same directory as python3.exe (If you installed version 2, then rename as python2.exe).
Now in command prompt type python2 or python3 and you should be able to launch either versions respectively.
Note: If you face issues regarding paths, then you should detail the error messages.
Case 2: Use a package manager
Choose a package manger: chocolatey, scoop, and others.
Check out these links for changing package manager's installation directory, installation method varies by the managers, so you should consult the developers should you experience problems:
chocolatey
scoop
Package managers will manage the versions for you, if you choose to install multiple versions. You should refer to the package manager's website for detailed information. However, you can quickly check the installed version by typing python --version. The python version number should be printed back to you, same applies to python3.
Double check your installation directory by which python
Type python or python3 to run your python of choice.
Lastly, you have mentioned atom. Atom is just a text editor: you can write python codes with it.
When you are done editing, you can open the command prompt and navigate to where your code resides, and type
python filename.py
This will run your code directly from the command prompt. There are many atom plugins available to make this process seamlessly integrated within atom. iPython and Jupyter plugins are first things that comes to my mind, you should specifically check out Hydrogen.
I am having trouble installing any PIP module.
Steps/Precautions I have taken:
I uninstalled Python and downloaded the most recent Python 3.6.2.
PIP seems to be installed already C:\Users\Danc2>C:\Users\Danc2\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32\scripts\pip3.6 (also included are files: pip, pip3).
pip install pyperclip returns
'pip' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
In using many different forums and typing commands into CMD I come up with results like: "'pip' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file."
When trying to refer to my folder location: "C:\Users\Danc2>C:\Users\Danc2>C:\Users\Danc2\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32\scripts
Access is denied."
Sorry for the common question, but I just cannot figure it out for my individual problem. I appreciate any kind effort to help.
Daniel.
I think you should restart your computer. If that doesn't work, go to Control Panel -> System -> Advanced Settings -> Environment Variables.
In the system variables you should go to Path and add the folder containing the pip.exe to your path.
If your Python installation works at all with the command line, then replacing pip with python -m pip in the command line is likely to fix the issue for you.
Thanks for all the help, guys. Between your answers and another post, I figured it out.
Apparently, my installation location (and program files) for Python was preventing me from installing pyperclip. I bypassed this issue by running CMD as an administrator (see Stack Article .I will still reinstall elsewhere.
Cheers,
Daniel.
I have a problem with the following command:
setup.py install.
I know it should work, I have tried it on a laptop but I don't have access to it at the moment. I need to complete a homework so I tried the same on my PC. And when I type the same command into cmd it just runs pyscripter as if I would use right click on setup.py and click edit with pyscripter. It does nothing else. I am sure that I am in the right folder in cmd.
My python version is 2.7 and my pyscripter version is v2.5.3. My OS is win7. I have tried to install other modules but I get the same response.
Has anyone encountered the same problem? I have searched the internet but I haven't found any answers to this problem.
Assuming that you installed Python 2.7 in the default folder i.e. c:\python27, then you can type:
c:\python27\python setup.py install
Wherever you installed it, you should append that path to your PATH variable (you'll need to log on as an admin to do that).
Do python setup.py install instead.
Windows is probably not set up to recognize .py files as executable.
Recently our class at school used all of the above programs. about a handful of students had trouble installing like you described. Fortunally I didnt not have this problen but I can suggest you use Administration priviledges.
Make sure you download the correct version.
Go to your download folder and look at the file you have downloaded (do this via my computer not from your web browser)
Right click on the file and then click run as an administrator
Here is an awesome site for windows binaries: http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/
If the library you need is there, just download and install like any other windows program...