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Author: Joel Gray Published: 22 January 2024 Read Time: ~2 minutes

How to install PIP on Linux, Windows and MacOS

PIP is a recursive acronym which means Pip Installs Packages. It is a crucial tool for Python developers, as it simplifies the process of installing and managing Python packages. While the steps to install PIP are similar across different operating systems, there are slight variations that users should be aware of.

Below is a guide tailored to help you install PIP on various operating systems. This guide assumes you have Python installed already. Checkout our blog on installing Python here.

TLDR

Linux

Debian/Ubuntu:

  1. sudo apt-get install python3-pip

Arch:

  1. sudo pacman -S python-pip

Windows

  1. PIP is included by default when you install from Python.org

MacOS

  1. After installing Python via Homebrew, PIP is installed automatically.

Detailed Instructions:

Debian/Ubuntu

Open a Terminal

  1. Use a keyboard shortcut, typically Ctrl + Alt + T.
  2. Alternatively, you can search for “Terminal” in your system’s application menu and open it from there.

Install PIP

Run the following commands, to install using the apt package manager.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt-get install python3-pip

Check if PIP is Installed

You can type the following command into the terminal and ensure the output lists a PIP version.

pip3 --version

Arch Linux

Open a Terminal

  1. Use a keyboard shortcut, typically Ctrl + Alt + T.
  2. Alternatively, you can search for “Terminal” in your system’s application menu and open it from there.

Install PIP

Run the following commands, which will install Python using the pacman package manager.

Note: You should update your page list first and upgrade any available pages.

sudo pacman -Sy
sudo pacman -S python-pip

Check if PIP is Installed

You can type the following command into the terminal and ensure the output lists a PIP version.

pip --version

Windows

PIP should be installed by default when you install Python from the official installer.

Open a Command Prompt

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type “cmd” and then press Enter or click OK.

Check if PIP is Installed

You can type the following command into the cmd terminal and ensure the output lists a PIP version.

pip --version

Reinstall Python if needed

If your Python install didn’t come with PIP installed, you should try to reinstall Python from scratch. Checkout our blog on how to install Python on Windows.

MacOS

PIP should be installed by default when you install Python via Homebrew.

Open a Terminal

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Choose Go from the menu bar ➙ Utilities.
  3. Scroll down to find Terminal and double-click it to open.

Check if PIP is Installed

You can type the following command into the terminal and ensure the output lists a PIP version.

pip3 --version

Reinstall Python if needed

If your Python install didn’t come with PIP installed, you should try to reinstall Python from scratch. Checkout our blog on how to install Python on MacOS.

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