Python command not working in command prompt

I have installed the latest Python for Win10 from Releases for Windows. Just typing py in the Command Prompt Window starts Python.

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.15048]
(c) 2017 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\sg7>py
Python 3.6.3 (v3.6.3:2c5fed8, Oct  3 2017, 18:11:49) [MSC v.1900 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>`enter code here`

Testing:

>>> print("hello!")
hello!
>>>

Please be aware that in my case Python was installed in C:\Users\sg7\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36> directory

C:\Users\sg7\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36>dir
 Volume in drive C is Windows7_OS
 Volume Serial Number is 1226-12D1

 Directory of C:\Users\sg7\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36

08/05/2018  07:38 AM    <DIR>          .
08/05/2018  07:38 AM    <DIR>          ..
12/18/2017  09:12 AM    <DIR>          DLLs
12/18/2017  09:12 AM    <DIR>          Doc
12/18/2017  09:12 AM    <DIR>          include
12/18/2017  09:12 AM    <DIR>          Lib
12/18/2017  09:12 AM    <DIR>          libs
10/03/2017  07:17 PM            30,334 LICENSE.txt
10/03/2017  07:17 PM           362,094 NEWS.txt
10/03/2017  07:15 PM           100,504 python.exe
10/03/2017  07:12 PM            58,520 python3.dll
10/03/2017  07:12 PM         3,610,776 python36.dll
10/03/2017  07:15 PM            98,968 pythonw.exe
08/05/2018  07:38 AM           196,096 Removescons.exe
08/05/2018  07:38 AM            26,563 scons-wininst.log
08/05/2018  07:38 AM    <DIR>          Scripts
12/18/2017  09:12 AM    <DIR>          tcl
12/18/2017  09:12 AM    <DIR>          Tools
06/09/2016  11:53 PM            87,888 vcruntime140.dll
               9 File(s)      4,571,743 bytes
              10 Dir(s)  20,228,898,816 bytes free

When I am at C:\Users\sg7> directory level python can be invoked by typing AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\python

C:\Users\samg>AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\python
Python 3.6.3 (v3.6.3:2c5fed8, Oct  3 2017, 18:11:49) [MSC v.1900 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>

Newer Python 3.7 will be installed at: C:\Users\YourUserNameHere\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37

If you wish you can add to your path environment variable: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36


It finally worked!!!

I needed to do things to get it to work

  1. Add C:\Python27\ to the end of the PATH system variable
  2. Add C:\Python27\ to the end of the PYTHONPATH system variable

I had to add these to both for it to work.

If I added any subdirectories, it did not work for some reason.

Thank you all for your responses.


The video was very useful.

  1. Go to system properties -> Advance ( or type "system env" in start menu.)
  2. Click environment variables
  3. Edit the 'PATH' variable
  4. Add 2 new paths 'C:\Python27' and 'C:\Python27\scripts'
  5. Run cmd again and type python.

it worked for me


Rather than the command "python", consider launching Python via the py launcher, as described in sg7's answer, which by runs your latest version of Python (or lets you select a specific version). The py launcher is enabled via a check box during installation (default: "on").

Nevertheless, you can still put the "python" command in your PATH, either at "first installation" or by "modifying" an existing installation.


First Installation:

Checking the "[x] Add Python x.y to PATH" box on the very first dialog. Here's how it looks in version 3.8: enter image description here

This has the effect of adding the following to the PATH variable:

C:\Users\...\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python38-32\Scripts\
C:\Users\...\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python38-32\

Modifying an Existing Installation:

Re-run your installer (e.g. in Downloads, python-3.8.4.exe) and Select "Modify". Check all the optional features you want (likely no changes), then click [Next]. Check [x] "Add Python to environment variables", and [Install]. enter image description here


In Windows 7 python start command in command prompt is

c:\>python3

but in Windows 10 python start command in command prompt is

  C:\>py
Python 3.6.3 (v3.6.3:2c5fed8, Oct  3 2017, 17:26:49) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>


C:\>py --version
Python 3.6.3

C:\>

But in Windows 10 python3 syntax not work also not given any error.

Django start command also uses py instead of python3.

d:\>py manage.py runserver