How to Install PIP on Windows for Python: Step-by-Step Guide

PIP is a tool for managing the Python packages. It helps you install and manage libraries not included in the Python standard library. It simplifies working with Python by making installing and managing external modules easier. This guide will walk you through how to install PIP on Windows.

What is PIP?

PIP stands for “Pip Installs Packages.” This tool helps you install and manage Python software packages hosted on the Python Package Index (PyPI).

Prerequisites

Before installing PIP, you need to have Python installed on your computer. To check if Python is installed:

1. Open the Command Prompt and Run it as Administrator.

Type the following command and press Enter:

python --version

2. If Python is installed, the version number will appear. You can also download and install Python from the official Python website.

Step 1: Check if PIP is Already Installed

Install PIP is often included with newer Python versions. To check if it’s already installed:

1. Open Command Prompt.

Type the following command:

pip --version

2. If you see a version number, PIP is installed. If you get an error saying pip is not recognized, proceed to the installation steps below.

Step 2: Download get-pip.py

If PIP is not installed, download the installation script:

1. Go to this URL: get-pip.py.
2. Right-click and choose Save As. Save the file as get-pip.py in a directory you can easily access.

Step 3: Install PIP

Once you have the get-pip.py file:

Open Command Prompt and open the folder where you saved get-pip.py. For example:

cd C:\Users\YourUsername\Downloads

Run the script using the following command:

python get-pip.py

PIP will be installed. After the installation finishes, confirm it by typing:

pip --version

If you see a version number, PIP has been successfully installed.

Step 4: Add PIP to Environment Variables (if needed)

If you encounter an error indicating that a command is unrecognized, it may require being added to the system’s PATH environment variable.

1. Go to the Start Menu and look for Environment Variables.
2. Click on Edit the system environment variables.
3. In the window, click on Environment Variables.
4. Under System Variables, find the Path variable, select it, and click Edit.

Click New and add the path where PIP is installed. It’s usually something like:

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\PythonXX\Scripts\

5. (Replace PythonXX with your Python version.)
6. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 5: Verify PIP Installation

To ensure everything is set up correctly, open Command Prompt and type:

pip --version

You should see the PIP version number, confirming that it’s ready to use.

Step 6: Install a Python Package Using PIP

Now PIP is installed, you can use it to install Python packages; install the popular requests package by the following command:

pip install requests

It will retrieve and install the specified package with any necessary dependencies.

Common PIP Commands

Here are some common commands you can use with PIP:

Install a package:

pip install package_name

Upgrade a package:

pip install --upgrade package_name

Uninstall a package:

pip uninstall package_name

List installed packages:

pip list

Show details about a package:

pip show package_name

Enhancing the Guide with Advanced Troubleshooting Tips

To further improve the guide on installing PIP, adding advanced troubleshooting tips would provide users with solutions to common issues they may face during installation. These tips help beginners and advanced users resolve errors quickly and efficiently.

1. Resolving PATH Configuration Errors

A common problem is encountering the error message: “PIP is not recognized as a command.” , even after installation. Such issues typically occur when the Python and PIP paths are not included in the system’s environment variables. A troubleshooting section could include detailed steps for checking and manually adding the correct paths to the system’s PATH variable.

2. Fixing SSL Certificate Issues

Another frequent issue is SSL certificate errors while installing packages. In restrictive network environments, users may encounter errors like “SSL certificate verification failed.” A helpful tip would be to guide users using the –trusted-host flag to temporarily bypass SSL verification and successfully install the required packages.

Example:

pip install package_name --trusted-host pypi.org

3. Handling Multiple Python Installations

If multiple versions of Python are installed on a system, PIP might need to be fixed. In such cases, users should be guided on managing multiple installations using tools like the py launcher or by specifying the full path to the Python and PIP executables to avoid conflicts.

Conclusion

Installing PIP on Windows is simple and allows you to manage Python libraries easily. By following this guide, you should now have PIP installed on your Windows system and be able to use it to install Python packages.

If you encounter any issues, double-verify the steps or consult the official PIP documentation for more help.

About the writer

Vinayak Baranwal wrote this article. Use the provided link to connect with Vinayak on LinkedIn for more insightful content or collaboration opportunities.