Fix: ‘pip’ is not recognized as an internal or external command

Some users trying to install Python packages using a Command Prompt window report seeing the “pip is not recognized as an internal or external command” error. Most affected users report that the issue occurs even after installing the Python distribution and making sure that Python is added to the path variable. The issue is not specific to a certain OS since it’s reported on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.

What is PIP?

PiP is a recursive acronym for “Pip Installs Packages“. It’s essentially a package management system used to install and manage software packages written in Python. Most users make use of PiP to install and manage Python packages found in the Python Package Index.

The latest Python versions (Python 2.7.9 and later and Python 3.4) include Pip by default.

What is causing the ‘pip’ is not recognized as an internal or external command error?

We investigated this issue by looking at various user reports and trying to replicate the issue on our computers. From what we gathered, there are several scenarios that are known to trigger this particular error message:

• PIP installation is not added to the system variable – In order to be able to run Python commands from a CMD window, you will need to add the path of your PiP installation to your PATH in the system variable. If you installed Python using the installation executable, it should be added automatically.
• The installation is incorrectly added in your PATH – It’s easy to mess up the PATH if you add it manually. Additional space or the missing of a semicolon before the new PATH will end up producing the error.

If you’re currently trying to resolve this particular error message that prevents you from using Python command in CMD, follow the methods advertised in this article. All the potential fixes below are confirmed to be working by at least one affected users.

For the best results, follow the methods below in order until you find a fix that helps you to resolve the issue in your particular scenario.

Method 1: Checking if PIP is added to your PATH variable

Let’s start by finding out where we stand. If you don’t know if your PIP installation is added to your PATH variable, you can find it out easily by using a certain command at a CMD prompt.

Knowing this will point you in the right direction and save you from trying out unnecessary steps.

Note: If you already know if the path of your PIP installation is added to your PATH variable, move down to the next methods below.

Here’s a quick guide on checking if the PIP installation is already in your PATH variable:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “cmd” and press Enter to open up Command Prompt.

   

2. Inside the command prompt window, type echo %PATH% and press Enter to get a listing with all locations added to the PATH variable.

   

3. If you manage to find a path similar to C:\Python37\Scripts (this depends on your Python version), it means that the installation path is already added to your PATH variable. In this case, you can skip next to methods below and jump straight to Method 4 where we start troubleshooting for problems related to the PiP installation path.

If you weren’t able to find the PiP installation path using the test above, move down to the next methods below (Method 2 and Method 3) to add PIP to the PATH environment variable.

Method 2: Adding PIP to the PATH environment variable using the Windows GUI

If Method 1 revealed that the PIP installation is not set to the PATH as an environment variable and you already installed the Python distribution, you’ll need to do it manually.

After completing the procedure below, you will be able to input PiP commands from a Command Prompt window. Here’s a quick guide on Adding the PiP installation to the Path environment variable using the Windows GUI:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “sysdm.cpl” and press Enter to open up the System Properties screen.

   

2. Inside the System Properties screen, go to the Advanced tab, then click on Environment Variables.

   

3. In the Environment Variables screen, go to System variables and click on Path to select it. Then with the Path selected, click the Edit… button.

   

4. In the Edit environment variable screen, click on New and add the path where the PiP installation is located. For Python 3.4, the default location is C:\Python34\Scripts.
   

   

5. Once the path is added, open a fresh CMD window and try to install a python package that comes with PiP. You should no longer see the “pip is not recognized as an internal or external command” error.

If you’re looking for a quicker way to add the PiP location to the environment variable, follow Method 3.

Method 3: Adding PIP to the PATH environment variable using CMD

A quicker way to set up the PIP path environment variable is to do it directly from a CMD window. This will save you some time, but it can be a little more intimidating if you’re not used to using the terminal.

Here’s a quick guide on setting the PiP path environment directly from a Command Prompt window:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “cmd” and press Enter to open a Command Prompt window.

   

2. In the Command Prompt window, run the following command to set the PIP installation to the environment variable:

   setx PATH “%PATH%;C:\Python37\Scripts”

   Note: Keep in mind that in this command, we used the default location for Python 3.7. If you’re using a different Python version or you installed it in a custom location, change the path after ‘;‘ accordingly.

3. See if this method was successfully by running a Python installation package (one that uses PIP) from the same CMD window. If you’re still encountering the error message, move down to the next method below.

Method 4: Opening the Python package without adding the PiP variable

If you’re looking for a way to install a Python package from CMD without adding PiP to the PATH environment variable, you can use a couple of different commands to install it. This also works if you used the methods above to configure the environment PATH variable but you’re still encountering the error message.

Here’s a couple of ways that you can use to open Python install packages in CMD without adding the PIP variable:

The Short Method:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “cmd” and press Enter to open a Command Prompt Window.

   

2. Type the following commands and make sure to change the placeholder to your own package name:

   python -m pip install [packagename]

   Note: Change [packagename] with the name of the package you’re trying to install.

The Long Method:

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R. Then, type “cmd” and hit Enter to open a Command Prompt window.

   

2. In the CMD window, use the following command to navigate to the directory where the python .whl file is located.

   cd C:\python installs

   Note: In our example, the Python install package was located in a folder called python installs. Adapt this command to navigate to the directory where the wheel is located.

3. Next, run the following command to install the Python package using PiP:

   c:\python37\scripts\pip.exe install [package].whl

   Note: Keep in mind need to change the location of your python installation if you have an older version or if you installed into a custom location. Also, make sure to change the [package] placeholder to your own package name.

If these two last methods didn’t enable you to install the Python package from the CMD window, follow the last method below where we ensure that PiP is installed.

Method 5: Ensuring that PiP is included in your Python installation

Before we go ahead and reinstall the whole Python environment, let’s see whether PiP was not omitted from the Python installation. Certain Python installers will leave PiP out of the default installation.

Luckily, you can rectify this by modifying the Python installation and modifying it to install PIP. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open Programs and Features.
   

   

2. Inside Programs and Features, right-click on the Python installation and click Change.

   

3. At the Modify Setup screen, click on Modify.
   

   

4. In the Optional Features screen, check the box associated with pip and click Next.

   

5. Hit the Install button to make the changes to the Python installation.

   

6. Once the Python installation is modified, open a CMD window and see if you’re able to install a Python package with PiP without seeing the “pip is not recognized as an internal or external command” error.

Method 6: Installing Python via the executable installer

If you’ve come this far without a result, reinstalling Python along with its components will likely resolve the “pip is not recognized as an internal or external command” error.

The easiest way to do this is by using the Python executable installer. If you configure it correctly, it will install PiP automatically. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open Programs and Features.

   

2. Inside Programs and Features, scroll down to the programs list to find the Python installation. Once you find it, right-click on it and choose Uninstall, then follow the on-screen prompts to remove it from your system. Once the Python distribution is removed from your computer, restart your machine.

   

3. At the next startup, visit this link (here) and download the latest Python executable installer according to your Os architecture.

   

4. Open the installation executable and start by making sure that the box associated with Add Python to PATH is checked – This ensures that you can run Python commands in Command Prompt. Then, click on Customize installation.

   

5. In the Optional Features window, make sure that the box associated with pip is checked, then click Next.

   

6. Leave the default location and Advanced Options, then click Install to commence the installation.

   

7. Once the installation is complete, restart your computer manually if you’re not automatically prompted to do so.
8. At the next startup, see if the issue has been resolved by trying to install a Python package via a CMD window.
9. If you’re still seeing the “pip is not recognized as an internal or external command” error, type the following command in a CMD window:

   python -m ensurepip --default-pip
   

   Note: With certain Python distributions (particularly 3.6), it’s possible that PiP doesn’t get installed by default. One of the official fixes for this included in the documentation is this command.