Python Is Not Recognized As An Internal Or External Command: A Complete Guide
Python is a well-known programming language, commonly used for developing desktop GUI applications and website applications. However, a certain issue which the users encounter, that is Python is not recognized as an internal or external command. If this is the case you are facing and searching for the reason behind the cause and its solution, then you can proceed further to this article. This article will guide you to learn effective methods with which you can get rid of the problem. So, check it out.
What Results in Python Is Not Recognized As An Internal Or External Command Issue?
Mainly the problem responsible for the Python is not recognized as an internal or external command error is the full path defined issue by the user. In case, if you want to utilize Python without defining the full path, then you need to add Python to the Windows Path manually. The steps you need to go through to perform this task are explained in the below section.
How to Add Python to the Windows Path to Resolve the “Python Is Not Recognized As An Internal Or External Command” Error?
Given below are the steps which you need to follow to solve the Python recognizing problem fixed. So, let’s begin.
Step 1: Launch Control Panel Home (System) window
At first, you need to open the Control Panel Home window. There are two different ways, by which you can perform this task and are as follows. Proceed with your selected way.
Way 1: Press the four flag symbol Windows button along with the Play/ Pause symbol button. That is all you need to perform, to get the Control Panel Home (System) window on the screen.
Way 2: At first, press the Windows button to get the search bar active. This process is for both the Windows 10 and the older version of the Windows users. Next, there is a different entry you need to type on the search bar, according to the Windows version you are using. That is:
- In Windows 10: This PC
- And for Older Windows version (XP, 7, 8): My Computer
Now, from the top-most search result, get the “This PC” for Windows 10, “My Computer”/ “Computer” for previous versions of Windows 10” option, right-click on it. After that, from the Menu window, select the “Properties” option. This will be the longest process among the two, to open the “Control Panel Home (System)” window.
Step 2: Advanced System Settings> Advanced> Environment Variables
Now, from the left-hand side panel options under the System Properties window, select “Advanced system settings”. This will get you the System Properties window. After that, from the available tabs under the System Properties window, click on Advanced> “Environment Variables…” button (left-hand bottom-section of the window).
Step 3: Select Path Entry> Click on “Edit…”> New (set Python’s path)> OK
Then, as you get the Environment Variables window open, navigate to the System variables section. Under it (System variables), you will get a line as “Path:”, click on it. After that, keeping the Path line selected, click on the “Edit…” button, that is present at the middle of the “New…” and “Delete” button.
Further, from the right-hand side panel of this open window, click on the “New” button. After that, you need to add the Python’s path at the end of the list. You can separate multiple paths using semicolons. “C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32;C:\Python27” is an example of the path for Python. Next, click on the OK button to confirm the path. Now, try to execute a Python command via Command Prompt. Hopefully, this time you will not face any problem during the Python command execution task, though if you do not completely explain the Python path on the Command Prompt window.
All these are the complete information, following which you can solve the Python is not recognized as an internal or external command error. So, it is better to try the method at first, before you get worried about. You can tell us your experience of solving the error by following the aforesaid method in the comment section below.
