Installing Python on macOS

Do not modify or remove Python-related tools supplied by macOS. Install a separate current Python 3 runtime for your own projects. The CPython project provides a signed, notarized universal installer for supported macOS versions at python.org.

Install from python.org

1. Download the current macOS installer from python.org.
2. Open the .pkg and complete the installer.
3. Run the installer's certificate setup command if the installer documentation requests it.
4. Open a new Terminal window and verify the interpreter and pip:

python3 --version
python3 -m pip --version

The exact patch version changes over time. Confirm that the reported major/minor line is supported by the packages your project needs.

Homebrew alternative

If your workflow already uses Homebrew, its Python formula is a valid separately managed distribution:

brew install python
python3 --version

Follow Homebrew's upgrade and removal rules for a Homebrew-managed interpreter. Do not mix files from the python.org installer into a Homebrew installation.

Create a project environment

mkdir example-project
cd example-project
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m pip --version

After activation, python and python -m pip refer to the environment. Add .venv/ to version control ignore rules. Leave the environment with deactivate.

Troubleshooting

Use command -v python3 and python3 -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)" to see which interpreter the shell selected. If it is not the distribution you intended, review shell PATH configuration rather than using sudo pip or modifying the system installation.