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'm pretty new to the community, and new to python. I know the basics. But now I'm trying to download third party modules via pip but everything I do regarding pip displays an error. I know that pip comes with python seeing as the pip file is there.
I am running python 3.6 and windows 10. I have downloaded pip off the internet also but when I try to run the program it says already downloaded. The first time I ran it it said that it was downloading and successfully downloaded so I'm kind of lost.
Thanks!
Sounds like it's already properly installed. pip is a program called from a system terminal, not from a Python prompt. Open up a command prompt and type pip -h see what happens. If this does not print out the help page on how to use pip, and instead you get an error to the effect of:
"pip" is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file
You then need to point Windows where to find the program (pip.exe) by adding your Python scripts folder C:\...\Python36-32\Scripts\ to your environment PATH variable. To do this, open the Start menu and search for "environment variables". Open the dialogue and find one named PATH (case doesn't matter). If it doesn't exist, create it. Edit the value and add the file path to the scripts folder to the end using ; as a separator.
As per your comment, if you are getting an access denied windows error this answer from another question may help you.
You need need to be sure either your powershell is being run as administrator, or by creating a virtual environment.
The Installing Packages docs have a great overview, and instructions.
https://packaging.python.org/installing/#use-pip-for-installing
I follow this tut to install python on Windows 7 (64 bit).
But I get an error: 0x80070643: Failed to Install MSI Package:
What's wrong?
P. S. The 1st and 3d methods of this guide have not worked for me.
Update
Should I tick up Add Python to PATH box?
Update 2
I've doanloaded the x86-64 embeddable zip file, unzipped it into Python35 and now it works.
Close the installation program and follow:
On the desktop, press Windows key+R to open a Run dialog.
Type msiexec /unreg, and press Enter.
Follow the first step again.
Type msiexec /regserver, and press Enter.
In this link you can find more information.
Choose 'custom install' & checked all options.
If you choose debug option , someone will require you install vs2005 above.
Click 'next', it'll work for you.
Go to Task Manager -> Details Tab -> End Task 'msiexec.exe'
Try install again.
Trying to install Python 3.4.3 64-Bit and it gives me the following error:
'There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A program required for this install to complete could not be run. Contact your support or package vendor'
I have no bloody idea what this means so please help. Thanks in advance
I'm the admin on my computer and have all permissions
My windows is 64bit and is Windows 8.1
I had the same phenomenon occur when trying to clean up (uninstall various versions of Python and perform a clean install of 3.4.3) on my Windows 7 64-bit laptop. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what "program required for this install to complete could not be run". Repeated attempts to "install for all users" produced the same "could not be run" (followed by a roll back of the install). Just before getting out Orca and diving into the innards of the MSI file, I attempted an "install just for me", and the install completed. I am, in fact, the only (human) user of this computer. There is another user account that was created during a cygwin setup, and access to some aspect of that user's profile/resources may have been the issue. If you are installing Python for your own use - and not as a "platform-wide" resource for other users as well - you might try installing "just for me".
For me the problem was that I had an older version of Python installed, that the MSI could not un-install. I had to manually remove it first.
This is how I resolved the problem on my Windows7 machine...
Open a command prompt and navigate to the location of the python.exe. (For me this was C:\Python34.)
Execute this command
python3 -B -m ensurepip._uninstall
Close the command prompt.
Using the python MSI file for the version of Python I had previously installed (yes, I went to the Python archive and downloaded the MSI for the old version), install Python again, but without the "pip" package. (Not sure if this is necessary, but it worked for me.)
Using the same Python MSI file, uninstall Python completely.
Using another MSI, for the version of Python you wish to install, you should now be able to perform a "clean" install.
I got the same error while uninstalling the python file from the control panel. It prompts
There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A program required for this install to complete could not be run. Contact your support or package vendor
I have solved this problem by installing the specific python-<version>.amd64.msi.
I then executed the MSI file. It asks for Change, repair, remove. First, click on Change radio button and complete execution. Later you can come to control panel and repair or uninstall the python file.
I had the same symptoms as OP. In my case, i had two separate installs, one of 2.7 and one of 3.4.3 and when i checked the PATH variable, there were 2 lines about PYTHONPATH pointing to the 2.7 version.
I removed the lines and then the repair funciton of the MSI did work. I uninstalled both versions and proceeded to reinstall.
Done :)
On a Win7 box:
Startup/ right click on Computer / Properties / Advanced system settings / Environment variables then check both sub-windows for paths related to python.
I had just the exact problem. But in mine case i've additionally removed the c:\python27 and c:\python36 directories and associated installers got stuck around Install/Uninstall and could not completely repair the installation (the /Scripts subdirectory has been missed and the python.exe reported an error about missed encodings module).
But i've found a solution for myself. Seems somehow the PYTHONHOME and PYTHONPATH environment variables (and may be PATH too) has been interfering with the Python installation process. But because i could not run Uninstall from the Windows Uninstall list in the Control Panel, then i did this:
Cleanup the PATH environment variable from all python path occurrences.
Remove PYTHONHOME and PYTHONPATH environment variables.
Restart Windows Explorer if environment variables (console command set PY must return the empty list) is not updated.
Run repair from (!) the python-3.4.4*.exe/python-2.7.11*.exe executables (download it if not done yet). Icons in the Windows Uninstall list in the Control Panel will reset into the original state for a repaired python installation.
Run the Uninstall from the same executables or from Windows Uninstall list in the Control Panel.
And it did the trick!
If you still needs the both versions of the python installation, then try install the older versions before the new versions. Seems it's important too.
Poking around, there is a temp file saying:
Error 1721. There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A
program required for this install to complete could not be run.
Contact your support personnel or package vendor. Action: UpdatePip,
location: C:\Programs\PY272\python.exe, command: -m ensurepip -U
--default-pip
=== Logging stopped: 6/12/2015 13:26:17 ===
OK, so the missing "Voldemort" file (that which shall not be mentioned) is the ensurepip package. There is documentation for ensurepip at https://docs.python.org/2/library/ensurepip.html. I am still on 2.7, but it looks like this is a shared problem with Py 3.
The documentation says the ensurepip package is new in 2.7.9. My solution: install a version prior to 2.7.9 and then upgrade the files myself from an existing install. Done.
I can't find anything around for current versions around, but my issue is exactly as the title says. Python is installed and working, but when I tried using the instructions listed on to install xlrd (open cmd at the setup directory, then enter "python setup.py install"), but this gives me an error saying that the command python doesn't exist. Double clicking the setup file doesn't work, the black cmd box flashes on the screen rapidly, without time to read what it says and without installing any files in the directories they should be in.
Also, as it may be relevant, I don't have permissions on this computer to install programs (the IT dept had to install python and N++ for me...). I don't know if this counts as a software installation that requres elevation, as far as Windows 7 is concerned.
Any help would be great.
If your command interpreter tells you the "command python doesn't exist" whereas it is installed it means it is not in your PATH environment variable.
Here is a little tutorial on how to do this on windows 7: http://www.windows7hacker.com/index.php/2010/05/how-to-addedit-environment-variables-in-windows-7/
Add the path where your python.exe is. Usually something like C:\Python27