How to Create a Default Virtual Environment on Windows to Separate Python2 and Python3

Install virtualenv

Run pip install virtualenv. If the package is already present, pip reports that it exists.

Create a virtual environment

Execute virtualenv test, where test is an arbitrary name for the environment. The command creates a directory named test in the current working directory (e.g., C:\Users\lenovo).

Directory layout

The created test folder contains a Scripts subdirectory. Inside Scripts are the activation scripts ( activate.bat) and the Python executable.

Activate the environment

Run activate.bat from the Scripts directory (or from a command prompt whose current directory is test\Scripts). The command prompt prefixes the environment name in parentheses, indicating that the virtual environment is active.

activate.bat

Verify Python version

With the environment active, run python. The interpreter reports its version; in the example it is Python 3.

python

Deactivate the environment

Exit the Python REPL with exit() (or Ctrl+Z). Then run deactivate.bat to leave the virtual environment; the prompt returns to its original form.

deactivate.bat

Notes

The default virtual environment uses the system’s Python 3 interpreter. Creating a Python 2 virtual environment is not covered in this article.