Python Setup: The Ultimate Guide

Python is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, and getting it running on Windows is pretty simple. In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Download Python from the official website
• Install it correctly (including adding it to PATH)
• Verify that everything works using Command Prompt and IDLE

I’ll also show where to place screenshots in your blog so your readers can follow along visually.

Step 1 – Download Python for Windows

Open your browser and go to the official Python download page:
https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/

At the top, you’ll see the latest Python 3 release (for example, “Python 3.12.x”).

Under that version, click “Download Windows installer (64-bit)”. Most modern PCs are 64-bit, so this is usually the right option.

Step 2 – Run the Installer

1. Once the .exe file finishes downloading, open it (double-click it in your browser or from the Downloads folder).
2. The Python setup window will appear.

Very important:
At the bottom of the first screen, check the box that says “Add python.exe to PATH”. This makes it possible to run Python from the Command Prompt.

3. Click “Install Now” to install with the default settings. This is perfect for most users.

Step 3 – Wait for the Installation to Finish

After clicking Install Now, the installer will:

• Copy all Python files
• Install the standard library
• Set up the Python launcher
• Update your system so python/py commands work from the terminal

You’ll see a progress bar during this process.

When it’s done, you should see a “Setup was successful” message.

Step 4 – Verify Python in Command Prompt

Now let’s make sure Python actually works.

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open Command Prompt.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type: python --version or py --version
3. You should see something like: Python 3.12.2

If you see a version number, Python is installed correctly and added to your PATH. If you get an error like “python is not recognized”, it usually means “Add python.exe to PATH” wasn’t checked—re-run the installer and make sure that option is enabled.

Step 5 – Open the Python Shell (IDLE)

Python comes with a simple editor called IDLE, great for beginners.

1. Click Start and search for “IDLE”.
2. Click IDLE (Python 3.x).
3. A window with >>> will appear—that’s the Python interactive shell. You can type code here and see the result immediately.

Try this:

print("Hello, Python on Windows!")

You should see:

Hello, Python on Windows!

Step 6 – (Optional) Create Your First Python File

If you want to save your code as a file:

1. In IDLE, click File → New File.
2. Type: name = input("What is your name? ") print("Hello,", name)
3. Click File → Save, choose a folder, and save as hello.py.
4. Press F5 or choose Run → Run Module to execute it.