[Resolved] Python was not found; Run without arguments
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What is “Python was not found; run without arguments” Error ?
The error message “Python was not found. Run without arguments”occurs when we try to execute a Python script or command in a command prompt or terminal window, but the Python interpreter is not installed or cannot be found.
Common reasons for “Python was not found to run without arguments’ Error
Python is not installed on your system
If Python is not installed on your computer, you will not be able to run Python scripts or commands. You can download and install Python from the official Python website.
[Solution] Check if Python is installed
Check if Python is installed on your system by opening a command prompt or terminal window and typing “python” or “python3” and pressing enter. If Python is installed, it will display the version information. If Python is not installed, it will show “’python’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.” error.
The Python executable is not in the system’s PATH
If the path to the Python executable is not added to the system’s PATH environment variable, you will not be able to run Python scripts or commands. You can add the path to the Python executable to the PATH variable to fix this issue.
[Solution] Add Python to the PATH
If Python is installed but not added to the PATH environment variable, you can add it manually. To do this follow following steps :
- Click on the Start menu and search for “Control Panel”, or press the Windows key + X and select Control Panel from the menu.
- Click on the System and Security option, then click on System.
- In the left sidebar, click on Advanced system settings.
- Under the Advanced tab, click on the Environment Variables button.
- Under System Variables, scroll down and select the PATH variable, then click Edit.
- In the Edit Environment Variable window, click on New and add the path to the Python executable directory, followed by a semicolon (;). For example, if Python is installed in C:\PythonXin, add “C:\PythonXin;” to the PATH variable.
- Save the changes: Click OK to close all the windows and save the changes.
Incorrect Python version
If you are trying to run a Python script that requires a specific version of Python, and that version is not installed on your system, you will not be able to run the script. You can install the required version of Python on your system and try running the script again.
[Solution] Verify the Python version
If you have multiple versions of Python installed, you need to verify that you are using the correct version for your script. You can check the Python version by running “python -V” or “python3 -V” or “python –version” in the command prompt or terminal window.
Corrupted Python installation
If your Python installation is corrupted or incomplete, you may encounter the “Python was not found” error message. In this case, you can try reinstalling Python or repairing your existing installation.
Uninstall Python
- Navigate to Control Panel.
- Click “Uninstall a program”, and a list of all the currently installed programs will display.
- Select the Python version that you want to uninstall, then click the “Uninstall” button above the list – this has to be done for every Python version installed on the system.
[Solution 1] Reinstall Python
If the above steps do not solve the problem, you may need to reinstall Python. First, uninstall Python from your system, then download and install the latest version of Python from the official website.
URL = https://python.org/downloads/
Use a virtual environment
It is also possible that you are encountering this error because your Python environment is not properly set up. Use a virtual environment for your Python projects to check that you have the correct dependencies installed and that your environment is configured correctly.
Incorrect command syntax
If you are running a Python command with incorrect syntax, you may see the “Python was not found” error message. Make sure that you are using the correct command syntax for the version of Python installed on your system.
