Installing Python 3

The Python installation also includes IDLE, the program we will use to write and execute our Python programs.

Warning

You must follow these instructions to install version 3 of Python. If you already have a different Python version installed, you should be able to install this version alongside it. It is very important that you install version 3 — do not install version 2.

  1. Go to the download page for Python 3.
  2. Download the latest version of Python 3 by clicking the appropriate Download button. (At the time these instructions were created, the latest version of Python 3 was Python 3.7.x. If you see a later version number, that’s okay, too. Just make sure to select the button for the version number that begins with Python 3 and not Python 2.)
  3. If prompted to do so, choose to save the file.
  4. Double-click or tap the icon for the downloaded file. This will start up an installer program. If prompted to do so, click Run.
  5. You should be able to use all of the default settings that the installer gives you by just clicking or tapping on the Next button.
  6. Once the installation is complete, click/tap the Finish button. Among other supporting applications, a program named IDLE (Python GUI) should now be installed.