Install Python on Windows via CLI (winget)

Install Python on Windows via CLI (winget)

Setting up Python on Windows no longer requires clicking through installers — thanks to winget, Microsoft’s official Windows Package Manager.

Here’s how you can install Python 3 in seconds, entirely from the terminal.

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1. Open PowerShell

Press Win + X → select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin).

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2. Find Available Python Versions

First, list all available Python packages:

winget search Python.Python

You’ll see results like:

Name        Id                    Version
----------------------------------------
Python 3.13 Python.Python.3.13    3.13.7
Python 3.12 Python.Python.3.12    3.12.10
Python 3.11 Python.Python.3.11    3.11.9
...

Pick the latest version (e.g. 3.13) and install it:

winget install -e --id Python.Python.3.13

If you want an older version (e.g. 3.12), just replace the ID.

⚠️ The meta-package Python.Python.3 isn’t always available — searching first ensures you install a version that exists in your winget catalog.

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3. Reopen Your CLI (Important!)

After installation, close and reopen PowerShell or Terminal. This refreshes the PATH so that python and pip are recognized.

Then verify the installation:

python --version
pip --version

If python still opens the Microsoft Store, go to Settings → Apps → Advanced app settings → App execution aliases and turn OFF python.exe and python3.exe (they conflict with real Python installs).

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4. (Optional) Upgrade pip

Keep pip up to date:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip

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Why Use winget?

✅ Official (maintained by Microsoft + Python Software Foundation)

✅ Adds Python to PATH automatically (just reopen your terminal to apply)

✅ Fully scriptable (great for automation & CI)

✅ Reproducible setup for fresh machines

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That’s it — you’ve installed Python on Windows with a single command, and it’s ready to use after reopening your terminal.