Python was not found; run without arguments to install from the Microsoft Store, or disable this shortcut from Settings

Question

I was trying to download a GUI, but the terminal keeps giving me this error:

Python was not found; run without arguments to install from the Microsoft Store, or disable this shortcut from Settings > Manage App Execution Aliases.

I'm trying to install it using this command:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools virtualenv

`pip` is for installing python packages. You need to install Python itself. Go to [www.python.org](http://www.python.org) and find a download link. — zvone, Dec 17 '20 at 21:58
You're trying to use python, which you don't have, to download python? — Random Davis, Dec 17 '20 at 22:16

score 167 · Answer 1 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:30

167

Check your Python version and be sure it is installed on your machine
Check the path environment variable
Go to -> "start" and type "Manage App Execution Aliases". Go to it and turn off "Python"

edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:30

Peter Mortensen

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answered Feb 28 '21 at 13:58

janadari ekanayaka

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I don't understand why the default python installer for windows doesn't automatically do the "manage app execution alias" thing. Super frustrating, thank you for this so much! If you're having issues, definitely try out #3 – Farley May 27 '21 at 04:00
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Thank bro this worked. Ensure you close the existing command prompt after this setting is done. – Nages Jun 04 '21 at 13:19
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@Farley Linux does that for you, well not really, but you do not have to worry about these pettty environment vars everytime – abhishah901 Jun 23 '21 at 19:36
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This should be the accepted answer. Except note that this error appears after Python has been uninstalled from the Microsoft store. You then have to install Python from Python.org and then add that Python.org binary to the PATH as described in the accepted answer. – CodeMed Aug 12 '21 at 19:34
Ahh, Smartgit should really clarify this error a little more. I was searching for a "Manage App Execution Aliases" setting within the program itself... – AlexGeorg Aug 18 '21 at 16:16
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@Nages, you saved my time by letting me close the command prompt – Yaakov Oct 18 '21 at 10:03
Manage app execution aliases was my issue as well. Changed that, closed and reopened command prompt and it worked. Thanks! – Developer Gee Feb 15 '22 at 18:08
Awesome, It Worked !! Perfect Response for this. – Calculate Feb 27 '22 at 20:27
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"Manage App Execution Aliases" worked for me but I had to first *terminate all python.exe processes*. Before I did that, it just kept ignoring my settings. – kichik Mar 04 '22 at 19:11
For me this didn't work until I made sure that the Python path entries were ABOVE the entry for the microsoft windows apps. Then it worked fine. – Alex May 10 '22 at 14:29

score 55 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 06:00

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I have the same issue. I fixed this issue by using the below method.

Copy two paths of Python

C:\Users\Maninder\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39
C:\Users\Maninder\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\Scripts

These are the paths where your Python interpreter is installed. Now add this path into your environmental variable. Put this path into System variable, not in user variable. I was using user variable, so I was facing the issue.

edited Sep 10 '21 at 06:00

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 29 '20 at 18:12

Maninder

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Thumps up. Restarting after adding these 2 lines did it for me. – Just van Til Mar 18 '21 at 15:04
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@Maninder - Thanks worked for me. BTW you can put `Python Path` in `User's variable` as well, to setup `Python` for each user. And only `Scripts` path should go to `System Variables` – Laxmikant Ratnaparkhi Jun 15 '21 at 03:34
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Thanks I added it to System path as mentioned above and restarted VS Code in my case. It is working fine now. – AfriPwincess Jun 02 '22 at 12:26

score 48 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:44

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I have a solution for you. Make sure you check the path mark during installation. Then you need to go to Manage App Execution Aliases.

Simply go to your search bar and search for Manage App Execution Aliases. You will find the attached screen and you need to turn off App Installers as you see on the screen. Also, see the path,,, follow Maninder's answer.

Then you are good to go! :)

edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:44

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jul 01 '21 at 19:15

Forhad

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Yeah, this is the solution to the problem, which is a real problem and there is no need for the snarkiness of the comments at the OP when he posted his question. – Alex. S. Oct 08 '21 at 03:29
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I did that and now ti says this:'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. – Yaakov Oct 18 '21 at 09:40
@Yaakov How did you solve it? I am stuck at this stage. – Ishwara Bhat Dec 06 '21 at 08:35
@IshwaraBhat I've encountered this and what worked for me is by just restarting my machine. – Mike Diente Dec 27 '21 at 17:57
@MikeDiente, Thanks. Later I realized that I had multiple python versions (from Anaconda and other installations). The manage extensions tab had multiple versions. Also system environment variables. Playing around with these solved my problem. – Ishwara Bhat Dec 29 '21 at 02:42
I cen't disable python.exe ailas. When I turn it off it kept shown as turned on – GyRo Jun 05 '22 at 10:40

score 24 · Answer 4 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 06:02

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I had the same issue. In Windows CMD, only: py --version, works.

I tried adding the path on System variables, and it didn't work. If you are using PyCharm as I do, try to run all commands from the IDE's terminal. It usually is on the side bar where the Run and the Console is. If it is not, go to: menu View → Tool Windows → Terminal. It worked just fine for me.

edited Sep 10 '21 at 06:02

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 29 '20 at 19:37

Strato P.

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This solved my problem :) – Lb Abid Jan 17 '22 at 09:09

score 21 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:24

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You need to download Python from https://python.org. When in the installation, be sure to check the option that adds Python to PATH.

edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:24

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 17 '20 at 22:23

DeeDeeAich

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This is not useful and can be misleading. E.g. I'm running PySpark in Jupyter. Clearly I have Python installed. Yet I still get the error. – Florin Andrei Jun 18 '21 at 01:19
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@FlorinAndrei, I solved this issue by restarting the PC / Laptop after installation of python – Mohamed Raza Aug 12 '21 at 11:54
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I am sure that I have python installed, but I get this error. so this isn't a good recommendation for all. – Niloofar Adelkhani Sep 19 '21 at 23:34
after installing the python restarting the PC worked for me – Ahmad Ayyaz Oct 03 '21 at 08:18
After installation, make sure to add the python paths to the PATH environment variable. Make sure it is added under System variable and not user variable. There is a comment above detailing that. – AfriPwincess Jun 02 '22 at 12:31

score 18 · Answer 6 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 05:57

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I haven't gotten this error before and have been using Python a long time, and then suddenly it showed up. I think that it is a result of a Windows update designed to steer you to their store.

In any case: to remedy the problem, go to Settings → app execution aliases → and turn "off" Python. (What they tell you to do, in other words). This should resolve the problem.

edited Sep 10 '21 at 05:57

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 18 '20 at 23:48

Anthony Curtis Adler

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score 3 · Answer 7 · edited Sep 11 '21 at 18:50

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Check the Aliases for App Execution in Windows. Search for Alias App in your Windows toolbar to find the UI for this. Try turning off anything Python related.

edited Sep 11 '21 at 18:50

Peter Mortensen

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answered Apr 06 '21 at 13:08

Bernard Finucane

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score 3 · Answer 8 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:40

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If you have installed Python successfully with add python path, ticked on, and have added

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\Scripts

to the path into System variables and have turned off the "aliases" and they all didn't work, you can simply use python instead of python3 in your cmd command.

edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:40

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 30 '21 at 05:11

Farhang Amaji

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Also using `py` instead of `python3` works too. – HGamble Aug 24 '21 at 20:55
Doesn't the path (`C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39`) depend on the particular version of Windows and how it is configured? Isn't it expressed in (another) environment variable? – Peter Mortensen Sep 10 '21 at 18:42
yes but it seems he has the same configuration and for the sake of helping him I ignored the general python path, and one the facts is that I just know 2 ways of these configurations because the conda and other package managers also modify the python paths differently. – Farhang Amaji Sep 11 '21 at 11:14

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Dec 17 '20 at 22:22

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If you're on Windows, you may want to use the Python installer, in Windows Marketplace.

answered Dec 17 '20 at 22:22

Sean

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Only do that if you intend to get a quick fix. In fact you shouldn't install from the market place in most cases for development. You should look into installing through pyenv and adding those version to your PATH. instead. – thoroc May 26 '21 at 14:49
Of all the answers above, I have python 3 installed on my system, plus i have it on my system variables, turning it off in settings only makes CMD not recognize it. But your comment about installing from the store actually works for me. Thank you!!!!! – Sebastian Jul 24 '21 at 23:17

score 1 · Answer 10 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:28

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I faced the same error while using Anaconda and trying to link the Python executable path in the command prompt.

It got rectified by going to Settings → App execution aliases → and turning "off" Python. Then again I had to set the path for Python in Anaconda and was successful in executing "python --version" command.

edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:28

Peter Mortensen

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answered Feb 10 '21 at 21:13

Ruby

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Okwo moses · Answer 11 · 2021-09-13T17:24:36.583

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Sincerely to resolve this issue, do the following below:

Uninstall the Python instance and reinstall it. Note: Make sure you check "Add variable PATH".
On the command line, type python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools virtualenv

edited Sep 13 '21 at 17:24

answered Aug 27 '21 at 03:17

Okwo moses

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score 0 · Answer 12 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:47

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That happened to me. So, to fix it, you have to follow the following steps:

Uninstall the Python version you already installed.
Go ahead and open the installation file to reinstall it again.
Before hitting Install Now, make sure to tick the box in front of Add Python to path.
Go ahead and complete the installation procedure as usual. Steps for installing Python

edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:47

Peter Mortensen

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answered Mar 02 '21 at 21:24

Dheyaa Kadhim

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score 0 · Answer 13 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:38

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If nothing the previous answers are working, you can check if you have the Python executable in your program files.

Go to C:\Program Files and check if you have the Python application. If not, go to the python download website here and download the .exe file.

While installing you must select "Custom install" and select the location as C:/Program Files.

Install it and it should work now from anywhere. This worked for me!

edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:38

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 09 '21 at 08:46

Tanmoy Chowdhury

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Doesn't the path (`C:\Program Files`) depend on the particular version of Windows and how it is configured? Isn't it expressed in (another) environment variable? – Peter Mortensen Sep 10 '21 at 18:41

score 0 · Answer 14 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:46

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I got this issue when I used Visual Studio Code as the IDE, and Anaconda as my Python compiler. And you don't need to close the "app alias" in settings, but copy your python.exe to python3.exe in your Anaconda folder.

edited Sep 10 '21 at 18:46

Peter Mortensen

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answered Aug 23 '21 at 11:07

Ray

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Re *"copy your python.exe to python3.exe"*: What about updates? – Peter Mortensen Sep 10 '21 at 18:46
@PeterMortensen my default python is 3.6, so i copy "python.exe" file, and paste it in same folder. and rename the copy to "python3.exe". – Ray Oct 14 '21 at 03:55

score 0 · Answer 15 · edited Sep 11 '21 at 18:51

The problem is more subtle than it seems.

For example, if you are using Visual Studio Code on the bottom left, you should see Python X.X.X xx-bit (the X is the version).

If you click in there you will see where the IDE is getting the python.exe from.

Locate that folder into your file explorer and then just follow the answer that is saying to change the environments variables.

So copy the path where python.exe is and add it to the Path variable and do the same where the Script folder is (it is in the same directory where the python.exe is).

Then of course make sure your IDE is using the right Python.

score 0 · Answer 16 · answered Dec 08 '21 at 18:26

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The same thing happened to me even after trying all the above-mentioned steps. I just restart my system and it was working fine. Do it and if still doesn't fix the issue then make sure you have checked "add python ( any version ) to PATH" before installing Python.

answered Dec 08 '21 at 18:26

Amit kumar

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No need to do this long process you just need to go "App Execution Aliases" just disable app installer on python. – Kishan Bheemajiyani Feb 03 '22 at 21:56

score 0 · Answer 17 · answered May 20 '22 at 19:02

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All the previous answers are correct but in my case, I was getting this because I was not passing the version...fix is passing the version

py.exe -3 your_program

answered May 20 '22 at 19:02

grepit

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score 0 · Answer 18 · answered Jun 04 '22 at 10:20

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I solved this problem for Visual Studio Code with just write "python" in console:

K:\Programming\Python\PythonOOP\PyGames> python

After that automatically opens Microsoft Store with Python app:

And i just click GET

And all work! Hope it's be helpful

answered Jun 04 '22 at 10:20

KomarCorporation

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Python was not found; run without arguments to install from the Microsoft Store, or disable this shortcut from Settings

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