Speed Up Python Package Installs: Configure Pip Mirrors in Minutes

What is pip?

pip is the official Python package manager, similar to an app store, used to install, uninstall, update, and list third‑party libraries. By default it connects to the overseas PyPI server, which can be very slow for users in China.

Mirror sources

A mirror (or replica) server hosts a copy of the entire PyPI repository on domestic servers, providing much faster download speeds. Common Chinese mirrors include Tsinghua University, Alibaba Cloud, and others.

Configuring pip mirrors

Temporary configuration

Use the -i option with the desired mirror URL for a single install command, e.g.:

pip install requests -i https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple/

Or install a specific version of a package from Alibaba Cloud:

pip install numpy==1.24.3 -i https://mirrors.aliyun.com/pypi/simple/

Permanent configuration – command line

Run the following command to set the global index URL (example uses Tsinghua mirror):

pip config set global.index-url https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple/

If the mirror shows an “untrusted host” warning, add it to the trusted hosts list: pip config set global.trusted-host pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn Verify the configuration with:

pip config list

Permanent configuration – manual file edit

When command‑line configuration fails or you need multiple mirrors, edit the pip configuration file directly.

Windows

File path: C:\Users\<username>\pip\pip.ini. Create the folder and file if they do not exist, then add:

[global]
index-url = https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple/
trusted-host = pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn
# optional backup source
# extra-index-url = https://mirrors.aliyun.com/pypi/simple/

macOS / Linux

File path: ~/.config/pip/pip.conf. Create the directory if needed, then add:

[global]
index-url = https://mirrors.aliyun.com/pypi/simple/
trusted-host = mirrors.aliyun.com
# optional timeout in seconds
timeout = 120

Check the settings with pip config list.

Conclusion

Use temporary settings for occasional installs, command‑line permanent settings for quick setup, or manual file edits for advanced customization such as backup mirrors or timeout adjustments. Switch to another mirror if the current one becomes slow or unavailable.