This article outlines the process of installing Python on Windows, including setting up environment variables and switching the pip repository to a domestic source for faster downloads. At the end, there is a link to a Quark Cloud Drive folder containing installation packages for Python 3.8 to 3.12, which covers all versions in one place, eliminating the need to use a proxy or search around for them.
Installing Python on Windows
Downloading the Installation Packages
Quark Cloud Drive has packaged all Windows 64-bit installation packages for Python 3.8 to 3.12 in one link (domestic high-speed download, no need for a proxy).
All installation packages are synchronized from the official python.org website, with consistent MD5 checksums. After downloading, simply select the version you need and install it.
If you’re unsure which version to choose, go with 3.10 or 3.12 as they cover most usage scenarios.
| Version | Description |
|---|---|
| Python 3.8.10 | Compatible with older projects |
| Python 3.9.13 | Stable version |
| Python 3.10.11 | Recommended |
| Python 3.11.9 | Improved performance |
| Python 3.12.10 | Recommended |
Quark Cloud Drive Download (3.8-3.12 Collection)
Verifying File Integrity
It is recommended to verify the file integrity after downloading to ensure the files are not damaged. All installation packages are synchronized from the official python.org website, with consistent MD5 checksums.
MD5 checksums:
# 3.8.10
62cf1a12a5276b0259e8761d4cf4fe42
# 3.9.13
e7062b85c3624af82079794729618eca
# 3.10.11
a55e9c1e6421c84a4bd8b4be41492f51
# 3.11.9
e8dcd502e34932eebcaf1be056d5cbcd
# 3.12.10
5eddb0b6f12c852725de071ae681dde4SHA256 checksums:
# 3.8.10
7628244cb53408b50639d2c1287c659f4e29d3dfdb9084b11aed5870c0c6a48a
# 3.9.13
fb3d0466f3754752ca7fd838a09ffe53375ff2c981279fd4bc23a005458f7f5d
# 3.10.11
d8dede5005564b408ba50317108b765ed9c3c510342a598f9fd42681cbe0648b
# 3.11.9
5ee42c4eee1e6b4464bb23722f90b45303f79442df63083f05322f1785f5fdde
# 3.12.10
67b5635e80ea51072b87941312d00ec8927c4db9ba18938f7ad2d27b328b95fbVerifying with Certutil
On Windows, open the Command Prompt (cmd), navigate to the download directory, and run the following commands (using 3.12 as an example):
certutil -hashfile python-3.12.10-amd64.exe MD5
certutil -hashfile python-3.12.10-amd64.exe SHA256Replace python-3.12.10 with the actual version number for other versions. The format is certutil -hashfile python-version-number-amd64.exe MD5.
Installation Steps
- Double-click the downloaded
.exefile. - Make sure to check the “Add Python to PATH” option (the checkbox at the bottom) and then click “Install Now”.
- Wait for the installation to complete and click “Close”.
If you forget to select “Add Python to PATH” during installation, there are two remedies:
Method 1: Reinstall
Uninstall Python and then run the installation package again, making sure to select the option this time.
Method 2: Manually Add Environment Variables
- Right-click “This PC” → Properties → Advanced System Settings → Environment Variables.
- Find “Path” in the “System Variables” section and double-click to edit it.
- Add two new entries:
C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\Scripts\
- Save the changes and then reopen Command Prompt (cmd) or PowerShell.
Verifying the Installation
Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and type:
python --version
pip --versionIf you see the version number, the installation was successful.
Switching the pip Repository to a Domestic Source for Faster Downloads
The default pip repository is located abroad, which can result in slow or timed-out downloads in China. Switching the repository can speed up the process.
If you don’t switch the repository, you may encounter errors like:
ERROR: Could not find a version that satisfies the requirement
ERROR: No matching distribution found for requests
WARNING: Retrying (Retry(total=4, connect=None, read=None, redirect=None, status=None) after connection broken by 'ConnectTimeoutError(<pip._vendor.urllib3.connection.HTTPSConnection object at 0x...>, 'Connection to pypi.org timed out. (connect timeout=15.0)'): /simple/requests/Temporary Use
You can specify a different repository each time you install packages using the -i parameter:
pip install requests -i https://mirrors.aliyun.com/pypi/simple/Permanent Solution (Recommended)
Use the following command to set the global repository to a domestic source for all future pip install requests:
Alibaba Cloud (Recommended):
pip config set global.index-url https://mirrors.aliyun.com/pypi/simple/
pip config set global.trusted-host mirrors.aliyun.comTsinghua University:
pip config set global.index-url https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple/
pip config set global.trusted-host pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cnTencent:
pip config set global.index-url https://mirrors.cloud.tencent.com/pypi/simple/
pip config set global.trusted-host mirrors.cloud.tencent.comUniversity of Science and Technology of China:
pip config set global.index-url https://mirrors.ustc.edu.cn/simple/
pip config set global.trusted-host pypi.mirrors.ustc.edu.cnAny of these options will work; I personally prefer using Alibaba Cloud as it tends to be more stable.
Verifying the Change
pip config listIf the index-url shows the address you set, the change has taken effect.
Common Questions
Q: What is the difference between “python” and “python3” commands?
On Windows, there is usually only the “python” command; on Linux/Mac, both may be available. You can use python --version to confirm which one is installed.
Q: Will installing multiple Python versions cause conflicts?
Multiple versions can be installed on Windows, but only one is added to the PATH by default. To use a different version, use a command like py -3.10 (the Python launcher will automatically select the correct version).
Q: I get an error “Could not find a version that satisfies the requirement” when using pip install.
This is likely due to an issue with the repository. First, confirm that the repository has been switched successfully (use pip config list). If the problem persists, it might be that the package is not compatible with your Python version; consider upgrading Python.
Q: Do I need a virtual environment? It’s recommended for managing multiple projects independently, as each project’s dependencies won’t interfere with each other:
python -m venv myenv
myenv\Scripts\activateAfter activation, (myenv) will appear in the command line, and pip install will install packages specifically in that environment.