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How to Install Python on Mac

For when you need the latest version of Python on your Mac

By Aaron Peters Aaron Peters Writer Villanova University Aaron Peters is a writer with Lifewire who has 20+ years experience troubleshooting and writing about consumer and business technology. His work appears in Linux Journal, MakeUseOf, and others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 6, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad

What to Know

On Python website, select latest installer > follow prompts > Install or Customization.Confirm: Open Terminal > type python --version. Terminal shows Python version number if successful. This article explains how to install the latest version of Python programming language onto a Mac using the most recent version of macOS.

Installing Python on macOS

The Python project makes regular releases of Python in standard .PKG format. Follow the following steps to install the standard Python distribution on your Mac: Grab the latest release from the Python website. Unless you're on an older machine and have to use a previous version of macOS for some reason, you can download the 64-bit installer file. The download is the standard macOS .PKG format. Click the installer file to proceed. The first screen provides some information on the install. Click Continue to move along. Click Continue on the following page as well, which is a notice that the project will stop providing support for 32-bit installers from v3.8 onward. The next screen asks you to accept the open-source license for Python. Click Continue and then click Agree.
Select a destination for the install on the following screen. You can click Install to place it on your main drive or click Customize to place it elsewhere. Now the installer starts copying the files, and the progress bar tells you when it's complete. Once the installation is finished, the app's folder opens in Finder.

Confirming Your Python Installation

To quickly confirm your Python installation is working correctly, try the following command in Terminal: python --version
Python 3.7.4

If you want to further confirm things, try running a simple Python script. Enter (or paste) the following code into an empty text file and naming it "hello-world.py": print ("Hello World!")

Now, at the command prompt, run the following: python /path/to/hello-world.py
Hello World!

If you get the above output, your up-to-date Python installation is ready to go.

Which Python Version to Install on macOS

Python comes pre-installed on macOS, but the built-in version is specific to the version of macOS you're currently running. This means it's only updated when you receive an OS update from Apple. So, if you choose to use the version built into macOS, you may be running a version that's older than the current one. Your other alternative is to install an up-to-date version directly from the Python project. Doing this comes with its own caveats, namely that you'll need to keep up with new releases on your own. Before deciding this, consider the following: Will your Python programs be solely for your own use, on your own Mac? If so, the built-in version is probably sufficient. Are you going to release your programs for use on a specific platform? When this is the case, it depends on how that platform tracks Python releases (or not). If you're targeting only macOS with your code, then the built-in version is actually a good choice, as you'll always know that the version you're using is the one that your users will have as well. However, if you're writing a web application, you'll need to consider what version of Python your web hosting company supports. Some operating systems, such as Linux, will follow the most recent release of Python closely. In this instance you can also use more recent versions, in order to take advantage of newer features. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Install PIP on a Mac How to Fix It When a JNI Error Has Occurred in Minecraft How to Install PIP on Windows How to Install MySQL on macOS How to Install Mac OS on PC How to Fix it When Roblox Is Unable to Download on a Mac How to Upgrade to macOS Ventura How to Downgrade From Catalina to Mojave How to Make a Bootable Flash Installer of OS X or macOS The 8 Best Android Emulators for Windows 10 and Windows 11 How to Reinstall macOS Catalina 15 Best Free Remote Access Software Tools (Oct. 2022) How to Use the Netstat Command on Mac How to Update Internet Explorer (Most Recent: IE11) How to Clean Install Windows 8 Pro Upgrade How to Install the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies