The Founder’s Guide:

How to Install and Manage Multiple Python Versions on Windows 10

The expanded tutorial with concise explanations and screenshots

“The condensed version of this article uses copy and paste code to help you get the outcome ASAP ⚡”

Check the System Type:

The System Type is used in Windows 10 to determine whether the operating system is the 32-bit or 64-bit version. It can be the 32-bit version which uses 32-bit processors and up to 4 gigabytes of memory. It can also be the 64-bit version which uses 64-bit processors and up to 128 gigabytes of memory.

1. Press “⊞ Windows”
2. Enter “About” into the search bar
3. Click “About Your PC”

Download Python:

Python is an object-oriented language that’s known for its simple syntax, code readability, flexibility, and scalability. It mostly gets used to develop web and software applications. It also has become one of the most popular languages for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.

1. Visit the official website: [3.5] [3.6] [3.7] [3.8][3.9]
2. Scroll to the “Looking for a specific release?” section
3. Scroll to the “Files” section
4. Download the “Executable Installer” that matches the system type
5. Repeat

Open the Executable File:

The Executable File (exe) is a file format that’s used to run programs and scripts once it’s opened. It performs a task or group of tasks according to the source code or instructions that are contained in the program or script. It can also contain viruses based on whether it came from a trusted source.

1. Double-click the Python file
2. Check the “Add Python ** to PATH” box
3. Click “Install Now”
4. Repeat

Open PowerShell:

PowerShell is a command-line shell and object-oriented scripting language that’s used to automate administrative tasks and configure system settings It can be used to automate practically anything in the operating system. It also replaced Command Prompt as the default system shell for Windows 10.

1. Press “⊞ Windows”
2. Enter “PowerShell” into the search bar
3. Click “Run as Administrator”

Open the Python Directory:

The Change Directory (cd) command is used to change the current working directory to the specified directory. It can navigate to absolute and relative paths that start from the root and current working directory, respectively. It can also navigate to paths stored in variables and environment variables.

1. Copy the command from below these instructions
2. Paste the command into PowerShell
3. Press “Enter”

cd $HOME\appdata\local\programs\python

Copy the Executable File:

The Copy command is used to duplicate a specified file or group of files to the specified location on the computer. It can create perfect copies of files and save them as the original or different file names. It also automatically overwrites files that have the same name without asking for confirmation.

1. Find the version from below these instructions
2. Copy the provided command
3. Paste the command into PowerShell
4. Press “Enter”
5. Repeat

Python 3.5:
copy python35\python.exe python35\python35.exe

Python 3.6:
copy python36\python.exe python36\python36.exe

Python 3.7:
copy python37\python.exe python37\python37.exe

Python 3.8:
copy python38\python.exe python38\python38.exe

Python 3.9:
copy python39\python.exe python39\python39.exe

Open the Environment Variables:

The Environment Variable is a variable that’s automatically created and maintained by the computer. It helps the system know where to install files, find programs, and check for user and system settings. It can also be used by graphical and command-line programs from anywhere on the computer.

1. Press “⊞ Windows”
2. Enter “Environment Variables” into the search bar
3. Click “Edit the System Environment Variables”
4. Click “Environment Variables…”

Open the PATH:

The PATH is an environment variable that contains the list of directories the computer uses to find executable files. It looks for the requested executable file in each directory on the list from top to bottom. It also stops searching once it finds a matching executable file and runs the program or command.

1. Select “Path” in the “User Variables” section
2. Click “Edit”

Set the Default Version:

The Default Version is the version of a program that’s executed when its command is called. It selects the first executable file that matches the command from the directories in the PATH environment variable. It also depends on the order of the directories but it can be set manually too.

1. Find the version from below these instructions
2. Select the provided paths in the PATH
3. Click “Move Up”
4. Click “Move Up” until the provided paths are the top two items
5. Click “OK”
6. Click “OK”
7. Click “OK”

Python 3.5:
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python35\scripts\
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python35\

Python 3.6:
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python36\scripts\
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python36\

Python 3.7:
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python37\scripts\
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python37\

Python 3.8:
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python38\scripts\
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python38\

Python 3.9:
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python39\scripts\
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\programs\python\python39\

Check the Default Version:

The Version (V) option is used to check which version of Python is currently selected as the default version. It consists of three numbers separated by periods that represent the major, minor, and micro version number. It also displays an error message if Python isn’t already installed on the computer.

1. Copy the command from below these instructions
2. Paste the command into PowerShell
3. Press “Enter”

python --version

Use a Specific Python Interpreter:

The Interpreter is a program that reads through instructions that are written in human-readable programming languages and executes the instructions from top to bottom. It translates each instruction to a machine language the hardware can understand, executes it, and proceeds to the next instruction.

1. Find the version from below these instructions
2. Copy the provided command
3. Paste the command into PowerShell
4. Press “Enter”

Python 3.5:
python35

Python 3.6:
python36

Python 3.7:
python37

Python 3.8:
python38

Python 3.9:
python39

Exit the Python Interpreter:

The Exit command is a built-in function in Python that’s used to terminate the Python interpreter from inside its interactive shell. It raises the “System Exit” exception which exits the interpreter without printing a stack trace. It also should only be used in the interactive shell and not in production code.

1. Copy the command from below these instructions
2. Paste the provided command into PowerShell
3. Press “Enter”

exit()

Open the Desktop Directory:

The Change Directory (cd) command is used to change the current working directory to the specified directory. It can navigate to absolute and relative paths that start from the root and current working directory, respectively. It can also navigate to paths stored in variables and environment variables.

1. Copy the command from below these instructions
2. Paste the provided command into PowerShell
3. Press “Enter”

cd $HOME\desktop

Create the Virtual Environment:

The Virtual Environment is an isolated Python installation directory that has its own interpreter, site-packages, and scripts. It mostly gets used to prevent version conflicts between dependencies from different projects. It also gets used to meet dependency requirements of different programs from GitHub.

1. Find the version from below these instructions
2. Copy the provided command
3. Paste the command into PowerShell
4. Press “Enter”

Python 3.5:
python35 -m venv venv35

Python 3.6:
python36 -m venv venv36

Python 3.7:
python37 -m venv venv37

Python 3.8:
python38 -m venv venv38

Python 3.9:
python39 -m venv venv39

Activate the Virtual Environment:

The Activate script is used to start the virtual environment. It prepends the virtual environment path to the PATH environment variable which sets the new Python interpreter and package manager as the default version. It also sets packages to install in the virtual environment installation directory.

1. Find the version from below these instructions
2. Copy the provided command
3. Paste the command into PowerShell
4. Press “Enter”

Python 3.5:
venv35\scripts\activate

Python 3.6:
venv36\scripts\activate

Python 3.7:
venv37\scripts\activate

Python 3.8:
venv38\scripts\activate

Python 3.9:
venv39\scripts\activate

Check the Executable File:

The Get-Command (gcm) command is used to find all the cmdlets, aliases, functions, filters, scripts, and programs that are installed on the computer. It searches by command type, module, name, verb, noun, and parameter. This displays data about the command type, name, version, and source.

1. Copy the command from below these instructions
2. Paste the command into Terminal
3. Press “Return”

$(get-command python).path

Deactivate the Virtual Environment:

The Deactivate command is used to stop the virtual environment. It removes the virtual environment path from the PATH environment variable which sets the last Python interpreter and package manager as the default version. It also sets packages to install in the system Python installation directory.

1. Copy the command from below these instructions
2. Paste the command into PowerShell
3. Press “Enter”

deactivate

“Hopefully, this article helped you get the 👯‍♀️🏆👯‍♀️, remember to subscribe to get more content 🏅”

Next Steps:

This article is part of a mini-series that helps readers set up everything they need to start learning about artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and or data science. It includes articles that contain instructions with copy and paste code and screenshots to help readers get the outcome as soon as possible. It also includes articles that contain instructions with explanations and screenshots to help readers learn about what’s happening.

Linux:
01. Install and Manage Multiple Python Versions
02. Install the NVIDIA CUDA Driver, Toolkit, cuDNN, and TensorRT
03. Install the Jupyter Notebook Server
04. Install Virtual Environments in Jupyter Notebook
05. Install the Python Environment for AI and Machine Learning

WSL2:
01. Install Windows Subsystem for Linux 2
02. Install and Manage Multiple Python Versions
03. Install the NVIDIA CUDA Driver, Toolkit, cuDNN, and TensorRT 
04. Install the Jupyter Notebook Server
05. Install Virtual Environments in Jupyter Notebook
06. Install the Python Environment for AI and Machine Learning
07. Install Ubuntu Desktop With a Graphical User Interface (Bonus)

Windows 10:
01. Install and Manage Multiple Python Versions
02. Install the NVIDIA CUDA Driver, Toolkit, cuDNN, and TensorRT
03. Install the Jupyter Notebook Server
04. Install Virtual Environments in Jupyter Notebook
05. Install the Python Environment for AI and Machine Learning

Mac:
01. Install and Manage Multiple Python Versions
02. Install the Jupyter Notebook Server
03. Install Virtual Environments in Jupyter Notebook
04. Install the Python Environment for AI and Machine Learning

Glossary:

The Shell is an interpreter that presents the command-line interface to users and allows them to interact with the kernel. It lets them control the system using commands entered from a keyboard. It also translates the commands from the programming language into the machine language for the kernel. [Return]

The Command-Line Interface (CLI) is a program that accepts text input from the user to run commands on the operating system. It lets them configure the system, install software, and access features that aren’t available in the graphical user interface. It also gets referred to as the terminal or console. [Return]

The Kernel is the program at the heart of the operating system that controls everything in the computer. It facilitates the memory management, process management, disk management, and task management. It also facilitates communication between the programs and hardware in machine language. [Return]

The Variable is the container that’s used to store different types of values. It can assign or update a value by placing an equals sign between the specified variable name and value without a space around it. It can also reference the stored value by placing a dollar sign in front of the existing variable name. [Return]

The Major version is a number that represents an update that introduces significant changes to a program. It can add different architecture, features, and functionality that’s incompatible with previous versions. This usually causes programs that were built with a previous version to stop working. [Return]

The Minor version is a number that represents an update that introduces moderate changes to a program. It can add small features and functionality that’s compatible with the latest major update. This usually doesn’t cause problems with programs that were built with the previous minor updates. [Return]

The Micro version is a number that represents an update that introduces very modest changes to a program. It can add bug fixes and performance enhancements that are compatible with the previous updates. This doesn’t cause problems with programs that were built with the previous updates. [Return]

The Site-Packages is a directory that’s located in the system-wide Python installation directory. It represents the default location that package managers use to install Python packages. It also represents the directory that Python uses to import Python packages that are already installed. [Return]

The Dependency is an additional binary package that a particular binary package needs to work properly. It can require multiple dependencies to build almost any program that’s distributed by package managers. It also gets downloaded and installed automatically by some package managers. [Return]