How to Install Python on macOS: Simple and Advanced Methods

There are several ways to install Python on macOS, and none of them are too difficult.

Simple method

The Python team provides a universal installer for macOS. Open the Terminal, navigate to the download directory, and run the following commands:

cd ~/Downloads

wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.13.0/python-3.13.0rc2-macos11.pkg

sudo installer -pkg ~/Downloads/python-3.13.0rc2-macos11.pkg -target /

Close and reopen the terminal, then verify the installation: python3 --version You should see the version information printed on the screen.

Not-so-simple method

You can also install Python via Homebrew, a command‑line package manager.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

brew install python

After installation, add Python to your macOS $PATH by editing .bash_profile:

nano ~/.bash_profile

export PATH="$PATH:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.13/bin"

Save the file, close and reopen the terminal, and Python will be ready to run.

Adding a Python‑supporting IDE

On macOS you may want a full‑featured IDE such as PyCharm. Download the appropriate installer for your architecture (Intel or Apple Silicon) from the official PyCharm website, run it, and follow the installation wizard. After installation, you can launch PyCharm from Launchpad, configure SSH connections if needed, and start developing Python projects.

Now you should be able to use Python on macOS.