Python Virtualenv not creating the new environment in the directory I am

First of all, to put in context:

  • I have installed Python 3.9 which comes from Visual Studio 2019

  • I have installed Python 3.8 from Microsoft Store which installs it in the path:

    C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps

Now I want to create a virtual environment for Python 3.8 so I can switch to it whenever I need. So I follow below steps (below commands are all executed from path C:\Users\username\AppData\Local):

  1. Installing virtualenv:

    py -3.8 -m pip install virtualenv

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  1. Creating new virtual environment for Python 3.8:

    py -3.8 -m virtualenv _venv38.win32

enter image description here

And what's the surprise? Folder _venv38.win32 is not created within the directory I am which is C:\Users\username\AppData\Local

Instead _venv38.win32 is created in:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.8_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\Local\_venv38.win32

So why? I want it to be created in:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\_venv38.win32

which is the path from where I have executed the command (step 2)


use

py -3.8 -m venv _venv38.win32

this will create venv at cwd.

virtualenv has a custom "remote" location for virtual environments somewhere outside your project