Install Python and start a project

Install Python 3, then create a virtual environment so each project keeps its own packages.

Tested on macOS 26 Tahoe · Oct 2026

Tested on Ubuntu 24.04 · Oct 2026

Tested on Windows 11 24H2 · Oct 2026

Fill these in once

Project folder name

Install Python
Terminal
```
brew install python
```
Make a project folder with its own environment
Terminal
```
mkdir my-project && cd my-project
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
```
Your prompt now starts with (.venv). Run deactivate to leave.

Check it worked

Check the version
Terminal
```
python3 --version
```

Undo it

Uninstall Python
Terminal
```
brew uninstall python
```

Install Python with pip and venvNeeds sudo
Terminal · Ubuntu / Debian
```
sudo apt install -y python3 python3-pip python3-venv
```
Make a project folder with its own environment
Terminal · Ubuntu / Debian
```
mkdir my-project && cd my-project
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
```
Your prompt now starts with (.venv). Run deactivate to leave.

Check it worked

Check the version
Terminal · Ubuntu / Debian
```
python3 --version
```

Install Python
PowerShell
```
winget install Python.Python.3.13
```
Close and reopen PowerShell afterwards.
Make a project folder with its own environment
PowerShell
```
mkdir my-project; cd my-project
py -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
```
If scripts are blocked, run Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned once.

Check it worked

Check the version
PowerShell
```
py --version
```

Undo it

Uninstall Python
PowerShell
```
winget uninstall Python.Python.3.13
```