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How to download and install Python on Mac

Python is free, and its official installer for Mac comes from python.org. Homebrew is the other common way. Here is which to pick, how to install it, the step people often miss after installing and why the command is python3.

Python

  • macOS 10.15 or later
  • One installer for Apple Silicon and Intel
  • Free, open source
Official Python websitepython.org ↗

Or the installer straight from the developer’s server:

For any Mac.pkg

The links go to the developer’s website (python.org). MacWashing is not affiliated with the developer and keeps no installers.

Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities) and run:

brew install python

Homebrew downloads the app from the developer’s server, checks the file and puts the app in Applications.

No Homebrew yet? How to install Homebrew: one command from brew.sh.

uv by Astral installs Python versions and project packages much faster than pip. Install it with the command from its official site:

curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

Reopen Terminal, install the latest Python and start it:

uv python install
uv run python

Python installed by uv lives in your home folder and doesn’t touch the python.org or Homebrew copies.

Before you download

macOS already has a python3 command in /usr/bin, but it belongs to Apple’s developer tools: without the Command Line Tools it only offers to install them, and with them it runs an older Python meant for Apple’s tools. Don’t remove or change it. A newer Python installs next to it.

python.org lists every release. Take the newest Python 3 release at the top of the page. Its installer is one .pkg for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and works on macOS 10.15 Catalina or later.

Download Python only from python.org. A .pkg installs with administrator rights, so avoid copies from other sites.

How to install Python

  1. Open the downloaded python-3.x.x-macos11.pkg in your Downloads folder.
The first screen of the Python installer
  1. Click Continue past the Read Me, then Continue and Agree to accept the license.
  2. Click Install and enter your Mac password.
  3. When the installer finishes, a Finder window with the Python 3.x folder opens. Double-click Install Certificates.command in it.
  4. A Terminal window installs the certificates Python needs for secure downloads. When it says the update is complete, close it.

Skipping Install Certificates.command is the usual cause of «CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED» errors when Python downloads something. You can run it later from Applications › Python 3.x.

What to set up after installing

Open a new Terminal window and check which Python runs:

python3 --version
  • Use `python3` and `pip3`. The python.org installer adds python3, not python. On a Mac, plain python usually gives «command not found».
  • Virtual environments. Keep each project’s packages apart. Create one in the project folder: python3 -m venv .venv Turn it on: source .venv/bin/activate
  • IDLE and Python Launcher. Both are in Applications › Python 3.x: IDLE is a simple editor, Python Launcher runs scripts you double-click in Finder.
  • The installer. Move the .pkg from Downloads to the Trash once Python runs.

If Python won’t install or run

  • The version check shows an old version. Terminal still finds Apple’s /usr/bin/python3. Open a new Terminal window. If that doesn’t help, double-click Update Shell Profile.command in Applications › Python 3.x.
  • «CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED». Double-click Install Certificates.command in Applications › Python 3.x.
  • «externally-managed-environment» from pip with Homebrew’s Python. Homebrew doesn’t let pip change its own Python. Install packages into a virtual environment, as above.

Alternatives to Python

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Questions and answers

Is Python free?

Yes. Python is free and open source, for any use, including commercial.

Should I install Python from python.org or with Homebrew?

Both work. The python.org installer is the official one and adds IDLE and Python Launcher. Homebrew installs Python from Terminal and keeps it updated along with your other Homebrew tools.

Why is the command python3 and not python?

The python name belonged to Python 2, so on a Mac Python 3 installs as python3 and pip3. Homebrew’s Python adds plain python links in a separate folder, which you can add to your PATH if you prefer.