How can I fix the "zsh: command not found: python" error? (macOS Monterey 12.3, Python 3.10, Atom IDE, and atom-python-run 0.9.7)

Question

Since I got the macOS v12.3 (Monterey) update (not sure it's related though), I have been getting this error when I try to run my Python code in the terminal:

I am using Python 3.10.3, Atom IDE, and run the code in the terminal via atom-python-run package (which used to work perfectly fine). The settings for the package go like this:

The which command in the terminal returns the following (which is odd, because earlier it would return something to just which python ):

I gather the error occurs because the terminal calls for python instead of python3 , but I am super new to any coding and have no idea why it started now and how to fix it. Nothing of these has worked for me:

• I deleted and then reinstalled the Python interpreter from python.org.
• I tried alias python='python3' (which I saw in one of the threads here).
• I tried export PATH="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin" (which I found here ).
• To reset zsh and paths, I deleted all associated hidden files in /local/users/ and ran the terminal once again.
• I deleted everything and reinstalled Mac OS X and the Python interpreter only to get the same error.

Answer 1

Anyone updating their macOS to Monterey 12.3 will find that they suddenly no longer have the system-provided Python 2.

The reason for this is that Apple removed the system-provided Python 2 installation ( details ).

So a workaround/solution for this is to use pyenv to install Python 2.7 (or any other specific version you need).

1. Install pyenv with brew to manage different Python versions: brew install pyenv
2. List all installable versions with pyenv install --list
3. Install Python 2.7.18 with pyenv install 2.7.18
4. List installed versions with pyenv versions
5. Set global python version with pyenv global 2.7.18
6. Add eval "$(pyenv init --path)" to ~/.zprofile (or ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc , whichever you need)
7. Relaunch the shell and check that Python works.

Answer 2

OK, after a couple of days trying, this is what has worked for me:

1. I reinstalled Monterey (not sure it was essential, but I just figured I had messed with terminal and $PATH too much).
2. I installed python via brew rather than from the official website. It would still return command not found error.
3. I ran echo "alias python=/usr/bin/python3" >> ~/.zshrc in terminal to alias python with python3 .

Problem solved.

As far as I get it, there is no more pre-installed python 2.x in macOS as of 12.3 hence the error. I still find it odd though that atom-python-run would call for python instead of python3 despite the settings.

Answer 3

If you simply installed Python 3, just use python3 as the command instead of just python . In my case, I had to install pynev first via Homebrew (executable brew ) using brew install pyenv .

But still after using pynev to install Python 2.7.18 and setting it as a global version using pyenv global 2.7.18 , I still ran into an error while trying to run python .

What worked for me (since I already had Python 3 installed) was by changing my command to use python3 instead of just python . Of course, this won't be a solution to everyone who may want to use Python 2.

Answer 4

I just had this problem on a new Macbook Pro with macOS Monterey, and the below worked for me using Homebrew.

I don't think aliasing is necessary, or at least it doesn't seem like that when using Pyenv.

1. Install pyenv ( https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv#installation ) and its dependencies (https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv/wiki#suggested-build-environment ):

    brew install pyenv brew install openssl readline sqlite3 xz zlib tcl-tk

2. Install Python 3.10.6 but I assume other 3.x versions should work as well:

    pyenv install 3.10.6

3. Made the necessary changes to my shell according to https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv#set-up-your-shell-environment-for-pyenv .

4. I made the installed Python available everywhere (this can be overridden per project or folder, if necessary):

    pyenv global 3.10.6

Now, the output looks like this:

% which python
/Users/jl/.pyenv/shims/python

% python --version
Python 3.10.6

If some scripts still fail, you will want to check that you added Pyenv to all the necessary shell startup files as mentioned in step 3 above.

Answer 5

I got zsh: Command not found python after installing using https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.10.4/python-3.10.4-macos11.pkg

I solved it by configuring the ENVIRONMENT. I added a line, alias python=/usr/local/bin/python3.10 , into the .zshrc file (you must be sure it is the true path).

---

My macOS ( Apple silicon ):

Darwin Johns-MacBook-Pro.local 21.4.0 Darwin Kernel Version 21.4.0: Mon Feb 21 20:35:58 PST 2022; root:xnu-8020.101.4~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T6000 arm64

Answer 6

I installed Python then this error occurred and I just run

echo "alias python=/usr/bin/python3" >> ~/.zshrc

and I t worked.on macOS Monterey 12.4, Python 3.8.9

Answer 7

I use brew install brew install python@3.9 , after installation success I want to know the version of python, I run command python --version , and I got the problem zsh: command not found: python .

If you install it successfully, please check in the terminal. It will show you if you got problem in install if not problem you just change command from python --version to python3 --version .

Answer 8

you should try

sudo ln -s /usr/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python

that solve my problem：）

Answer 9

You installed python3 from https://python.org/downloads/ , so you just need to run everything with python3 instead of python . You don't have to downgrade to python2 to use python... It will work fine with suffixing python with 3, ie python3 eg. $ which python3 , python3 --version , $ python3 script.py etc

Answer 10

alias python=/usr/bin/python3

This command works but need to re-enter whenever we restart the termian

Answer 11

type python3 instead of python screenshot

Answer 12

for 3.10.8

install with python with brew command

brew install python@3.10

if you have.zshrc file just edit like this

alias python='python3'

alias pip ='pip'

export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.10/libexec/bin:$PATH"

if you dont have.zshrc file:

cd

vi.zshrc

and copy/paste the line below

alias python='python3'

alias pip ='pip'

export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.10/libexec/bin:$PATH"

Answer 13

I had the same problem with fresh MacOS Ventura with Apple Silicon M1 Pro chip. Seems like brew installs to a different location than before on Apple Silicon?

/usr/bin/ folder had a Python executable and the version for it was 3.9.6.

So I installed Python using brew but then I had to execute it via python3 command so I ran echo "alias python=/opt/homebrew/bin/python3" >> ~/.zshrc and restarted my terminal. I was prompted with the desired version of Python when executing python command.

Answer 14

If you are using pyenv and on Mac M1, then try switching the python from system version to a version that is installed already (ex: pyenv global 3.8.13 , considering 3.8.13 is another version). In order to check what versions installed use pyenv versions .

If you don't have another version, try installing a new one and switch to that new environment (ex: pyenv install 3.8.13 ). Then install using pip. Everything should work fine. thats what worked for me.

and make sure your pip and python are aliased to pip3 and python3 respective in the respective terminal configuration file.

Answer 15

I First installed python with brew

brew install python

Then I tried linking the python with symlinks using:

brew link python3

And it worked for me.

PS: I was trying to run a shell script and alias approach didn't work.

Answer 16

eval "$(pyenv init --path)"

bash starting will be more slow, just suggest

export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/.pyenv/shims

Answer 17

I have a MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 chip and macOS v12.4 (Monterey).

• I deleted all Python versions and cleared the trash
• Opened Terminal and typed "python"
• This prompted an xcode.app update
• Then I downloaded the latest version of Python from python.org (version 2.10.5)
• Installed that version
• Quit Terminal
• Opened Terminal
• Typed "python3"

It seems to now be there OK.

Answer 18

Try the command python3 --version if you have installed Python 3.

Answer 19

Just run the below command in your terminal:

echo "alias python=/usr/bin/python3" >> ~/.zshrc

Basically, here we are saying the terminal to treat python as python3.
Works like magic!