Python Tutorial — Learn Python Step by Step

Install Python on Windows

Follow these steps to install Python 3 on Windows 10 or 11. The process takes about 5 minutes and gives you a fully working Python environment with pip (package manager) included.

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Download the installer: Visit python.org/downloads and click the large yellow "Download Python 3.x.x" button. It auto-detects Windows.
2. Run the installer: Double-click the downloaded .exe file.
3. IMPORTANT: Check "Add python.exe to PATH" at the bottom of the first screen before clicking anything else.
4. Click "Install Now": This installs Python, pip, IDLE, and documentation to the default location.
5. Wait for completion: You'll see "Setup was successful" when done. Click Close.

Verify Installation

# Open Command Prompt (Win+R, type cmd, Enter)
python --version
# Output: Python 3.12.1

# Check pip
pip --version
# Output: pip 23.3.1 from C:\Users\...\site-packages\pip (python 3.12)

# Run a quick test
python -c "print('Python is working!')"
# Output: Python is working!

First Program on Windows

# Create a file called hello.py in any folder
# Open it with Notepad or VS Code and add:
print("Hello from Windows!")
print("Python is installed correctly.")

Run it from Command Prompt:

C:\Users\YourName> python hello.py
Hello from Windows!
Python is installed correctly.

Recommended: Install VS Code

• Download Visual Studio Code (free)
• Install the Python extension by Microsoft from the Extensions marketplace
• VS Code gives you syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, debugging, and integrated terminal
• Open any .py file and press Ctrl+Shift+` for the terminal, then run with python filename.py

Troubleshooting