'python3' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

Question

I am using Python 3.5.2 version on Windows 7 and tried using python3 app.py. I am getting this error message:

'python3' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Is there any specific cause about why the python3 command is not working?

I also verified that the PATH is added to environment variables.

score 217 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 05 '17 at 19:11

217

There is no python3.exe file, that is why it fails.

Try:

py

instead.

py is just a launcher for python.exe. If you have more than one python versions installed on your machine (2.x, 3.x) you can specify what version of python to launch by

py -2 or py -3

answered Jan 05 '17 at 19:11

Vlad Bezden

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`py.exe` seems to get installed as `C:\Windows\py.exe`. `py -3.5` etc. to select a specific version also works. – Peter Nov 02 '17 at 09:21
2

is it only for windows? can't we use it in linux as I have tried its not working? – Umar Asghar Dec 08 '17 at 18:57
1

Once Python for Windows is installed, does not matter the version, just try "python" instead "python3". – jefferson.macedo Jan 15 '19 at 11:46
Or use `python app.py` instead as the executable's name is `python.exe` (if you have added Python to PATH). – NameError Jun 21 '23 at 13:07

score 42 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 08 '19 at 08:53

42

You can also try this: Go to the path where Python is installed in your system. For me it was something like C:\Users\\Local Settings\Application Data\Programs\Python\Python37 In this folder, you'll find a python executable. Just create a duplicate and rename it to python3. Works every time.

enter image description here

edited Jun 08 '19 at 08:53

habib

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answered Jun 08 '19 at 04:44

1

will this add a python3 interpreter to the system? – lxknvlk Sep 14 '19 at 16:23
I believe this is the only right way to do it! Except the path is incorrect, (Turn on hidden items) `C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37` – Dagad Apr 04 '22 at 06:50

score 12 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 18 '19 at 20:36

Yes, I think for Windows users you need to change all the python3 calls to python to solve your original error. This change will run the Python version set in your current environment. If you need to keep this call as it is (aka python3) because you are working in cross-platform or for any other reason, then a work around is to create a soft link. To create it, go to the folder that contains the Python executable and create the link. For example, this worked in my case in Windows 10 using mklink:

cd C:\Python3
mklink python3.exe python.exe

Use a (soft) symbolic link in Linux:

cd /usr/bin/python3
ln -s python.exe python3.exe

score 10 · Answer 4 · edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

10

Python3.exe is not defined in windows

Specify the path for required version of python when you need to used it by creating virtual environment for your project

Python 3

virtualenv --python=C:\PATH_TO_PYTHON\python.exe environment

Python2

virtualenv --python=C:\PATH_TO_PYTHON\python.exe environment

then activate the environment using

.\environment\Scripts\activate.ps1

edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

Community

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answered Apr 28 '17 at 13:43

HaTiMSuM

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5

score 5 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 05 '18 at 05:55

5

If python2 is not installed on your computer, you can try with just python instead of python3

answered Nov 05 '18 at 05:55

Jerin

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score 5 · Answer 6 · answered Mar 14 '19 at 15:44

In my case I have a git hook on commit, specified by admin. So it was not very convenient for me to change the script (with python3 calls).

And the simplest workaround was just to copy python.exe to python3.exe.

Now I could launch both python and python3.

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 15 '17 at 12:52

2

For Python 27

virtualenv -p C:\Python27\python.exe django_concurrent_env

For Pyton36

 virtualenv -p C:\Python36\python.exe django_concurrent_env

answered Dec 15 '17 at 12:52

Umar Asghar

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score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Feb 01 '19 at 13:59

1

Enter the command to start up the server in that directory: py -3.7 -m http.server

answered Feb 01 '19 at 13:59

YOOG

11
1

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Jul 26 '22 at 19:05

I had a related issue after installing windows 11, where python3 in cmd would open the windows store. I was able to sort it out between this post and this other one. In short, I reinstalled python and made sure to add it to PATH. Then, in settings, Apps > Apps & Features > App Execution aliases. Here, all I had to do was make sure that every single python .exe (including idle and pip) were turned off EXCEPT FOR the python3.exe alias. Now it works like a charm.

FWIW: The root of this issue is not with you or with python. Apparently, Microsoft wanted to make installing python easier for young kiddos getting interested in coding, so they automatically add an executable to PATH. For those of us that already have this executable, it can cause these issues.

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Aug 11 '22 at 15:13

Found out instead press the play button the top right and it should work in visual studios:

Do not disable according to first answer

Saying python3 in the command will not work by default.

After figuring out the problem with the modules (Solution): https://youtu.be/paRXeLurjE4

Summary: To import python modules in case of problem to import modules:

Hover over python in search: Click open in folder Hover over and right click click properties copy everything in path before \python.exe close those windows

For cmd (administrator): cd --path that was copied-- then python -m pip install --upgrade pip cd Scripts pip install "Name of Package" such as pip install --module (package) --

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please [edit] to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers [in the help center](/help/how-to-answer). — Community, Aug 15 '22 at 19:02

score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Sep 04 '22 at 09:31

Im on win10 and have 3.7, 3.8 and 3.10 installed.

For me "python" launches version 3.10 and does not accept commands (like -3.7), "py" launches newest version but does accept commands, and "python3" does nothing.

Uninstalled 3.10 and "python" now does nothing, and "py" launches 3.8.

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Oct 26 '22 at 02:16

I am unable to add a comment, but the mlink option presented in this answer above https://stackoverflow.com/a/55229666/8441472 by @Stanislav preserves cross-platform shebangs at the top of scripts (#!/usr/bin/env python3) and launches the right python.

(Even if you install python from python.org, Windows will direct you to the app marketplace nowadays if you type python3 on the command line. If you type python on the same cli it will launch the python.org version repl. It leads to scripts that generate no output, but more likely silently failed completely. I don't know ho common this is but have experienced it on a couple of different devices)

If you have this at the top of your script to ensure you launch python3 and don't feel like editing everything you own, it is not a bad approach at all... lol.

'python3' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

12 Answers12

Python 3

Python2

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