Python 3.8 installation in windows 10 simple
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Ready to Code? The Beginner’s Guide to Installing Python 3.8.2 on Windows 10
Welcome back to Darren’s Tech Tutorials!
If you’re ready to dive into the world of programming, there is no better starting point than Python. Known for its incredible readability and versatility, Python is the engine behind everything from web development to data science.
In this comprehensive guide, we are going to get you set up and ready to code. We’ll walk through the exact steps to download and install the robust and reliable Python version 3.8.2 on your Windows 10 machine. Follow these simple instructions, and you’ll be writing your first script in no time!
Why Choose Python 3?
Before we jump into the installation, let’s quickly acknowledge why Python dominates the programming landscape. Created by Guido van Rossum, Python’s core design philosophy prioritizes code readability—something programmers love, especially when working on larger projects.
Python is an interpreted, high-level, and general-purpose language, meaning it is flexible enough to handle almost any task you throw at it. For our tutorial today, we are focusing on Python 3.8.2, a stable version that provides excellent performance and library support.
Step 1: Downloading the Python 3.8.2 Installer
The first step in our journey is heading straight to the source to download the official Windows installer package.
1. Visit the Official Python Website
Open your favorite web browser and navigate to the official Python Software Foundation website: python.org.
2. Navigate to the Downloads Page
Look for the “Downloads” tab in the main navigation bar. Python’s front page usually offers the latest stable release, but since we are specifically targeting Python 3.8.2, we may need to browse the archive.
3. Locate Python 3.8.2
Scroll down the downloads page to find the specific version you need. Locate the section for Python 3.8.2 and click the appropriate link for Windows.
Pro Tip: Always choose the “Windows installer (64-bit)” option unless you have a specific reason to use the 32-bit version (which is rare on modern Windows 10 machines). Click the link to begin the download of the executable file (.exe).
Step 2: Running the Python Installer on Windows 10
Once the executable file has finished downloading (it will likely be in your Downloads folder), we can move on to the installation process. This step is critical, so pay close attention to the checkbox!
1. Launch the Installer
Double-click the downloaded .exe file (e.g., python-3.8.2-amd64.exe). The Python installation wizard will open.
2. The MOST Important Step: Adding Python to PATH
When the installer window appears, you will see two checkboxes at the very bottom. Stop right here!
You MUST check the box that says “Add Python 3.8 to PATH.”
Why is this important? Checking this box allows you to execute Python commands and run scripts from anywhere in your Command Prompt or PowerShell without having to navigate to the installation directory first. It makes coding life much, much easier!
3. Choose Your Installation Type
Once the PATH box is checked, you have two options:
- Install Now: This is the quickest option and uses the recommended default settings for all users. We recommend this for beginners.
- Customize installation: This allows you to choose specific features, installation locations, and other advanced settings.
Click Install Now.
4. Complete the Installation
Windows User Account Control (UAC) may prompt you for permission—click Yes. The installation process will run for a few moments. Once complete, you will see a screen confirming that the setup was successful. Click Close.
Step 3: Verifying Your Python Installation
You’ve installed Python 3.8.2, but how do you know it worked correctly and that the PATH variable is set? Let’s verify everything using the Command Prompt.
1. Open the Command Prompt
Click the Start Menu (Windows logo) and type cmd, then hit Enter to open the Command Prompt application.
2. Check the Python Version
In the command prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
python --version
If the installation was successful and the PATH variable was correctly configured, the prompt should return:
Python 3.8.2
3. Check Pip (The Package Installer)
Python comes bundled with Pip, the standard package manager used for installing external libraries (like NumPy or Django). To ensure Pip is working, type:
pip --version
You should see output detailing the Pip version and where it is located. If both commands run successfully, congratulations! Your installation is 100% complete.
What’s Next?
You now have a fully functional Python 3.8.2 environment ready on your Windows 10 machine! The hard work is over—now the fun begins.
Make sure you Like this video tutorial and Subscribe to Darren’s Tech Tutorials so you don’t miss our next video, where we’ll jump straight into writing your very first Python script! Let us know in the comments what coding project you plan to tackle first! Happy coding!