If you’re trying to install a Python package and you see the message:
‘pip’ is not recognized as an internal or external command
don’t worry — this is one of the most common Python errors on Windows systems, especially after a fresh installation of Python. The good news is that the fix is simple and permanent.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- Why Windows shows this pip error
- How to fix “pip is not recognized” step-by-step
- How to check if pip is installed
- How to add pip to PATH manually
- Alternative solutions if nothing works
Let’s get started.
✔️ Why Windows Says “pip is not recognized”
This error appears when Windows cannot find pip.exe in your system PATH.
Even if pip exists on your computer, Windows doesn’t know where it is.
This happens because:
- Python was installed without adding it to PATH
- pip is installed, but its folder is not linked to PATH
- You installed multiple Python versions (3.10, 3.11, etc.)
- You’re using PowerShell or CMD in the wrong directory
✔️ Step 1 — Check If pip Is Installed
Run this command in CMD:
python -m pip --version
If you see something like:
pip 23.0.1 from C:\Users\...\Python311\lib\site-packages
Then pip exists — Windows just cannot find it.
If you see:
No module named pip
Then pip is not installed → skip to step 5.
✔️ Step 2 — Find Where Python Is Installed
Run:
where python
You will get one or more locations, for example:
C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\
Inside this folder, two important directories exist:
- Scripts\ → contains pip.exe
- Python311\ → contains python.exe
✔️ Step 3 — Add Python and pip to PATH (Permanent Fix)
1️⃣ Open Windows Search → type “Edit the system environment variables”
2️⃣ Click “Environment Variables…”
3️⃣ Under “User Variables”, select Path → Edit
4️⃣ Add these two paths (adjust version numbers):
C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\
C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\Scripts\
5️⃣ Click OK → OK → OK
6️⃣ Restart CMD
Now run:
pip --version
If it shows pip version → Problem fixed ✔️
✔️ Step 4 — If pip Still Not Recognized (Try These Fixes)
Fix A — Use py -m pip Instead
Windows sometimes links py but not python:
py -m pip install package_name
If this works, pip is installed correctly.
Fix B — Repair Python Installation
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Search for Python
- Click → Modify
- Choose Repair
This restores pip and PATH settings.
Fix C — Reinstall Python with PATH Enabled
If nothing works, reinstall Python.
During installation:
✔️ Check “Add Python to PATH”
✔️ Check “Install pip”
✔️ Choose “Customize installation” if needed
This almost always solves the issue permanently.
✔️ Step 5 — Install pip Manually (If Missing)
If pip is missing from your Python installation:
Download get-pip.py
Save this file from the official script:
https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
Then run:
python get-pip.py
This reinstalls pip into the Python folder.
✔️ Summary — Quick Fix for “pip is not recognized”
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| pip not found | Add Scripts folder to PATH |
| python not found | Add Python installation folder to PATH |
| pip missing | Install pip manually |
| Multiple Python versions | Use py -m pip |
| Installation corrupted | Repair or reinstall Python |
✔️ Final Test
Run all three:
pip --version
python -m pip --version
py -m pip --version
If any of these return a version number → pip is working correctly.
If you’re seeing the error “pip is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet” on Windows, it usually means Python or pip is not added to your system PATH. This issue also appears commonly inside VSCode as “pip’ is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet vscode”, especially when users try installing packages without configuring Python correctly.
Many Windows 11 users search for “pip is not recognized windows 11” because the OS sometimes requires manually adding the Python installation path. If you’re typing commands in CMD or PowerShell, you may see “pip’ is not recognized in terminal”, which indicates the terminal can’t locate pip.
Mac users encounter similar issues, often searching for “pip is not recognized mac”, usually caused by multiple versions of Python installed on the system. The problem is widely discussed online, especially in threads titled “pip is not recognized reddit”, where developers face the same PATH-related problem.
If you are using Anaconda, you might run into “pip is not recognized in anaconda prompt”, typically because the active Conda environment doesn’t include pip or wasn’t activated properly. Many beginners look up “pip is not recognized how to fix” when they need a step-by-step solution.
Always verify your installation using:
python --version
pip --version
If neither works, downloading Python again is recommended — many users simply search “python” or “python download” to get the latest official release compatible with their system.
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