installed.html 16 KB

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250251252253254255256257258259260261262263264265266267268269270271272273274275276277278279280281282283284285286287288289290291292293294295296297298299300301302303304305306307308309310311312313314315316317318319320321322323324325326327328329330331332333334335336337338339340341342343344345346347348349350351352353354355356357358359360
  1. <!DOCTYPE html>
  2. <html>
  3. <head>
  4. <meta charset="utf-8" />
  5. <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /><meta name="generator" content="Docutils 0.17.1: http://docutils.sourceforge.net/" />
  6. <meta property="og:title" content="“Why is Python Installed on my Computer?” FAQ" />
  7. <meta property="og:type" content="website" />
  8. <meta property="og:url" content="https://docs.python.org/3/faq/installed.html" />
  9. <meta property="og:site_name" content="Python documentation" />
  10. <meta property="og:description" content="What is Python?: Python is a programming language. It’s used for many different applications. It’s used in some high schools and colleges as an introductory programming language because Python is e..." />
  11. <meta property="og:image" content="https://docs.python.org/3/_static/og-image.png" />
  12. <meta property="og:image:alt" content="Python documentation" />
  13. <meta name="description" content="What is Python?: Python is a programming language. It’s used for many different applications. It’s used in some high schools and colleges as an introductory programming language because Python is e..." />
  14. <meta property="og:image:width" content="200" />
  15. <meta property="og:image:height" content="200" />
  16. <meta name="theme-color" content="#3776ab" />
  17. <title>“Why is Python Installed on my Computer?” FAQ &#8212; Python 3.12.0 documentation</title><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  18. <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../_static/pygments.css" />
  19. <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../_static/pydoctheme.css?digest=b37c26da2f7529d09fe70b41c4b2133fe4931a90" />
  20. <link id="pygments_dark_css" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../_static/pygments_dark.css" />
  21. <script data-url_root="../" id="documentation_options" src="../_static/documentation_options.js"></script>
  22. <script src="../_static/jquery.js"></script>
  23. <script src="../_static/underscore.js"></script>
  24. <script src="../_static/doctools.js"></script>
  25. <script src="../_static/sidebar.js"></script>
  26. <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml"
  27. title="Search within Python 3.12.0 documentation"
  28. href="../_static/opensearch.xml"/>
  29. <link rel="author" title="About these documents" href="../about.html" />
  30. <link rel="index" title="Index" href="../genindex.html" />
  31. <link rel="search" title="Search" href="../search.html" />
  32. <link rel="copyright" title="Copyright" href="../copyright.html" />
  33. <link rel="next" title="Glossary" href="../glossary.html" />
  34. <link rel="prev" title="Graphic User Interface FAQ" href="gui.html" />
  35. <link rel="canonical" href="https://docs.python.org/3/faq/installed.html" />
  36. <style>
  37. @media only screen {
  38. table.full-width-table {
  39. width: 100%;
  40. }
  41. }
  42. </style>
  43. <link rel="stylesheet" href="../_static/pydoctheme_dark.css" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" id="pydoctheme_dark_css">
  44. <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/png" href="../_static/py.svg" />
  45. <script type="text/javascript" src="../_static/copybutton.js"></script>
  46. <script type="text/javascript" src="../_static/menu.js"></script>
  47. <script type="text/javascript" src="../_static/themetoggle.js"></script>
  48. </head>
  49. <body>
  50. <div class="mobile-nav">
  51. <input type="checkbox" id="menuToggler" class="toggler__input" aria-controls="navigation"
  52. aria-pressed="false" aria-expanded="false" role="button" aria-label="Menu" />
  53. <nav class="nav-content" role="navigation">
  54. <label for="menuToggler" class="toggler__label">
  55. <span></span>
  56. </label>
  57. <span class="nav-items-wrapper">
  58. <a href="https://www.python.org/" class="nav-logo">
  59. <img src="../_static/py.svg" alt="Logo"/>
  60. </a>
  61. <span class="version_switcher_placeholder"></span>
  62. <form role="search" class="search" action="../search.html" method="get">
  63. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" class="search-icon">
  64. <path fill-rule="nonzero" fill="currentColor" d="M15.5 14h-.79l-.28-.27a6.5 6.5 0 001.48-5.34c-.47-2.78-2.79-5-5.59-5.34a6.505 6.505 0 00-7.27 7.27c.34 2.8 2.56 5.12 5.34 5.59a6.5 6.5 0 005.34-1.48l.27.28v.79l4.25 4.25c.41.41 1.08.41 1.49 0 .41-.41.41-1.08 0-1.49L15.5 14zm-6 0C7.01 14 5 11.99 5 9.5S7.01 5 9.5 5 14 7.01 14 9.5 11.99 14 9.5 14z"></path>
  65. </svg>
  66. <input placeholder="Quick search" aria-label="Quick search" type="search" name="q" />
  67. <input type="submit" value="Go"/>
  68. </form>
  69. </span>
  70. </nav>
  71. <div class="menu-wrapper">
  72. <nav class="menu" role="navigation" aria-label="main navigation">
  73. <div class="language_switcher_placeholder"></div>
  74. <label class="theme-selector-label">
  75. Theme
  76. <select class="theme-selector" oninput="activateTheme(this.value)">
  77. <option value="auto" selected>Auto</option>
  78. <option value="light">Light</option>
  79. <option value="dark">Dark</option>
  80. </select>
  81. </label>
  82. <div>
  83. <h3><a href="../contents.html">Table of Contents</a></h3>
  84. <ul>
  85. <li><a class="reference internal" href="#">“Why is Python Installed on my Computer?” FAQ</a><ul>
  86. <li><a class="reference internal" href="#what-is-python">What is Python?</a></li>
  87. <li><a class="reference internal" href="#why-is-python-installed-on-my-machine">Why is Python installed on my machine?</a></li>
  88. <li><a class="reference internal" href="#can-i-delete-python">Can I delete Python?</a></li>
  89. </ul>
  90. </li>
  91. </ul>
  92. </div>
  93. <div>
  94. <h4>Previous topic</h4>
  95. <p class="topless"><a href="gui.html"
  96. title="previous chapter">Graphic User Interface FAQ</a></p>
  97. </div>
  98. <div>
  99. <h4>Next topic</h4>
  100. <p class="topless"><a href="../glossary.html"
  101. title="next chapter">Glossary</a></p>
  102. </div>
  103. <div role="note" aria-label="source link">
  104. <h3>This Page</h3>
  105. <ul class="this-page-menu">
  106. <li><a href="../bugs.html">Report a Bug</a></li>
  107. <li>
  108. <a href="https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/main/Doc/faq/installed.rst"
  109. rel="nofollow">Show Source
  110. </a>
  111. </li>
  112. </ul>
  113. </div>
  114. </nav>
  115. </div>
  116. </div>
  117. <div class="related" role="navigation" aria-label="related navigation">
  118. <h3>Navigation</h3>
  119. <ul>
  120. <li class="right" style="margin-right: 10px">
  121. <a href="../genindex.html" title="General Index"
  122. accesskey="I">index</a></li>
  123. <li class="right" >
  124. <a href="../py-modindex.html" title="Python Module Index"
  125. >modules</a> |</li>
  126. <li class="right" >
  127. <a href="../glossary.html" title="Glossary"
  128. accesskey="N">next</a> |</li>
  129. <li class="right" >
  130. <a href="gui.html" title="Graphic User Interface FAQ"
  131. accesskey="P">previous</a> |</li>
  132. <li><img src="../_static/py.svg" alt="python logo" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-top: -1px"/></li>
  133. <li><a href="https://www.python.org/">Python</a> &#187;</li>
  134. <li class="switchers">
  135. <div class="language_switcher_placeholder"></div>
  136. <div class="version_switcher_placeholder"></div>
  137. </li>
  138. <li>
  139. </li>
  140. <li id="cpython-language-and-version">
  141. <a href="../index.html">3.12.0 Documentation</a> &#187;
  142. </li>
  143. <li class="nav-item nav-item-1"><a href="index.html" accesskey="U">Python Frequently Asked Questions</a> &#187;</li>
  144. <li class="nav-item nav-item-this"><a href="">“Why is Python Installed on my Computer?” FAQ</a></li>
  145. <li class="right">
  146. <div class="inline-search" role="search">
  147. <form class="inline-search" action="../search.html" method="get">
  148. <input placeholder="Quick search" aria-label="Quick search" type="search" name="q" />
  149. <input type="submit" value="Go" />
  150. </form>
  151. </div>
  152. |
  153. </li>
  154. <li class="right">
  155. <label class="theme-selector-label">
  156. Theme
  157. <select class="theme-selector" oninput="activateTheme(this.value)">
  158. <option value="auto" selected>Auto</option>
  159. <option value="light">Light</option>
  160. <option value="dark">Dark</option>
  161. </select>
  162. </label> |</li>
  163. </ul>
  164. </div>
  165. <div class="document">
  166. <div class="documentwrapper">
  167. <div class="bodywrapper">
  168. <div class="body" role="main">
  169. <section id="why-is-python-installed-on-my-computer-faq">
  170. <h1>“Why is Python Installed on my Computer?” FAQ<a class="headerlink" href="#why-is-python-installed-on-my-computer-faq" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h1>
  171. <section id="what-is-python">
  172. <h2>What is Python?<a class="headerlink" href="#what-is-python" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h2>
  173. <p>Python is a programming language. It’s used for many different applications.
  174. It’s used in some high schools and colleges as an introductory programming
  175. language because Python is easy to learn, but it’s also used by professional
  176. software developers at places such as Google, NASA, and Lucasfilm Ltd.</p>
  177. <p>If you wish to learn more about Python, start with the <a class="reference external" href="https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide">Beginner’s Guide to
  178. Python</a>.</p>
  179. </section>
  180. <section id="why-is-python-installed-on-my-machine">
  181. <h2>Why is Python installed on my machine?<a class="headerlink" href="#why-is-python-installed-on-my-machine" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h2>
  182. <p>If you find Python installed on your system but don’t remember installing it,
  183. there are several possible ways it could have gotten there.</p>
  184. <ul class="simple">
  185. <li><p>Perhaps another user on the computer wanted to learn programming and installed
  186. it; you’ll have to figure out who’s been using the machine and might have
  187. installed it.</p></li>
  188. <li><p>A third-party application installed on the machine might have been written in
  189. Python and included a Python installation. There are many such applications,
  190. from GUI programs to network servers and administrative scripts.</p></li>
  191. <li><p>Some Windows machines also have Python installed. At this writing we’re aware
  192. of computers from Hewlett-Packard and Compaq that include Python. Apparently
  193. some of HP/Compaq’s administrative tools are written in Python.</p></li>
  194. <li><p>Many Unix-compatible operating systems, such as macOS and some Linux
  195. distributions, have Python installed by default; it’s included in the base
  196. installation.</p></li>
  197. </ul>
  198. </section>
  199. <section id="can-i-delete-python">
  200. <h2>Can I delete Python?<a class="headerlink" href="#can-i-delete-python" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h2>
  201. <p>That depends on where Python came from.</p>
  202. <p>If someone installed it deliberately, you can remove it without hurting
  203. anything. On Windows, use the Add/Remove Programs icon in the Control Panel.</p>
  204. <p>If Python was installed by a third-party application, you can also remove it,
  205. but that application will no longer work. You should use that application’s
  206. uninstaller rather than removing Python directly.</p>
  207. <p>If Python came with your operating system, removing it is not recommended. If
  208. you remove it, whatever tools were written in Python will no longer run, and
  209. some of them might be important to you. Reinstalling the whole system would
  210. then be required to fix things again.</p>
  211. </section>
  212. </section>
  213. <div class="clearer"></div>
  214. </div>
  215. </div>
  216. </div>
  217. <div class="sphinxsidebar" role="navigation" aria-label="main navigation">
  218. <div class="sphinxsidebarwrapper">
  219. <div>
  220. <h3><a href="../contents.html">Table of Contents</a></h3>
  221. <ul>
  222. <li><a class="reference internal" href="#">“Why is Python Installed on my Computer?” FAQ</a><ul>
  223. <li><a class="reference internal" href="#what-is-python">What is Python?</a></li>
  224. <li><a class="reference internal" href="#why-is-python-installed-on-my-machine">Why is Python installed on my machine?</a></li>
  225. <li><a class="reference internal" href="#can-i-delete-python">Can I delete Python?</a></li>
  226. </ul>
  227. </li>
  228. </ul>
  229. </div>
  230. <div>
  231. <h4>Previous topic</h4>
  232. <p class="topless"><a href="gui.html"
  233. title="previous chapter">Graphic User Interface FAQ</a></p>
  234. </div>
  235. <div>
  236. <h4>Next topic</h4>
  237. <p class="topless"><a href="../glossary.html"
  238. title="next chapter">Glossary</a></p>
  239. </div>
  240. <div role="note" aria-label="source link">
  241. <h3>This Page</h3>
  242. <ul class="this-page-menu">
  243. <li><a href="../bugs.html">Report a Bug</a></li>
  244. <li>
  245. <a href="https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/main/Doc/faq/installed.rst"
  246. rel="nofollow">Show Source
  247. </a>
  248. </li>
  249. </ul>
  250. </div>
  251. </div>
  252. </div>
  253. <div class="clearer"></div>
  254. </div>
  255. <div class="related" role="navigation" aria-label="related navigation">
  256. <h3>Navigation</h3>
  257. <ul>
  258. <li class="right" style="margin-right: 10px">
  259. <a href="../genindex.html" title="General Index"
  260. >index</a></li>
  261. <li class="right" >
  262. <a href="../py-modindex.html" title="Python Module Index"
  263. >modules</a> |</li>
  264. <li class="right" >
  265. <a href="../glossary.html" title="Glossary"
  266. >next</a> |</li>
  267. <li class="right" >
  268. <a href="gui.html" title="Graphic User Interface FAQ"
  269. >previous</a> |</li>
  270. <li><img src="../_static/py.svg" alt="python logo" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-top: -1px"/></li>
  271. <li><a href="https://www.python.org/">Python</a> &#187;</li>
  272. <li class="switchers">
  273. <div class="language_switcher_placeholder"></div>
  274. <div class="version_switcher_placeholder"></div>
  275. </li>
  276. <li>
  277. </li>
  278. <li id="cpython-language-and-version">
  279. <a href="../index.html">3.12.0 Documentation</a> &#187;
  280. </li>
  281. <li class="nav-item nav-item-1"><a href="index.html" >Python Frequently Asked Questions</a> &#187;</li>
  282. <li class="nav-item nav-item-this"><a href="">“Why is Python Installed on my Computer?” FAQ</a></li>
  283. <li class="right">
  284. <div class="inline-search" role="search">
  285. <form class="inline-search" action="../search.html" method="get">
  286. <input placeholder="Quick search" aria-label="Quick search" type="search" name="q" />
  287. <input type="submit" value="Go" />
  288. </form>
  289. </div>
  290. |
  291. </li>
  292. <li class="right">
  293. <label class="theme-selector-label">
  294. Theme
  295. <select class="theme-selector" oninput="activateTheme(this.value)">
  296. <option value="auto" selected>Auto</option>
  297. <option value="light">Light</option>
  298. <option value="dark">Dark</option>
  299. </select>
  300. </label> |</li>
  301. </ul>
  302. </div>
  303. <div class="footer">
  304. &copy; <a href="../copyright.html">Copyright</a> 2001-2023, Python Software Foundation.
  305. <br />
  306. This page is licensed under the Python Software Foundation License Version 2.
  307. <br />
  308. Examples, recipes, and other code in the documentation are additionally licensed under the Zero Clause BSD License.
  309. <br />
  310. See <a href="/license.html">History and License</a> for more information.<br />
  311. <br />
  312. The Python Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation.
  313. <a href="https://www.python.org/psf/donations/">Please donate.</a>
  314. <br />
  315. <br />
  316. Last updated on Oct 02, 2023.
  317. <a href="/bugs.html">Found a bug</a>?
  318. <br />
  319. Created using <a href="https://www.sphinx-doc.org/">Sphinx</a> 4.5.0.
  320. </div>
  321. </body>
  322. </html>