Python 3 does not run, I edited the system variables

Question

When I try to run python 3 I get this error:

C:\Users\owner>python
File "C:\Python33\lib\site.py", line 173
file=sys.stderr)
    ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

I have never edited the site.py file.

I was running python 2 before, but I want to use python 3 so I edited the System Variables:

 C:\Users\owner\AppData\Roaming\cabal\bin;C:\Ruby193\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\google_appengine\;C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\bin;C:\Python33;C:\Python33\Scripts;

when I edit them back to use python 2 it works fine:

C:\Users\owner\AppData\Roaming\cabal\bin;C:\Ruby193\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\google_appengine\;C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\bin;C:\Python27;C:\Python27\Scripts;

Possible duplicate of http://stackoverflow.com/q/23399867/2877364 — cxw, Aug 26 '15 at 22:19

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:29

2

In addition to changing PATH, also change PYTHONPATH and PYTHONHOME. See, e.g., this. For example:

set PYTHONHOME=C:\Python33
set PYTHONPATH=C:\Python33\lib

(thanks to aflat, this answer).

Edit:

Confirm that you are setting the PATH so that it will take effect. See Step 2 of this.
At the command prompt, run path and confirm it lists Python33 and not Python27.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:29

Community

1
1

answered Aug 26 '15 at 22:25

cxw

16,685
2
45
81

Run `python --version` when you have the path set for Python 3. What is the output? – cxw Aug 27 '15 at 01:31
It says it is using python 2.7 – user2803555 Aug 27 '15 at 04:41

Python 3 does not run, I edited the system variables

1 Answers1