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<section id="why-is-python-installed-on-my-computer-faq">
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<h1>“Why is Python Installed on my Computer?” FAQ<a class="headerlink" href="#why-is-python-installed-on-my-computer-faq" title="Link to this heading">¶</a></h1>
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<section id="what-is-python">
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<h2>What is Python?<a class="headerlink" href="#what-is-python" title="Link to this heading">¶</a></h2>
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<p>Python is a programming language. It’s used for many different applications.
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It’s used in some high schools and colleges as an introductory programming
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language because Python is easy to learn, but it’s also used by professional
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software developers at places such as Google, NASA, and Lucasfilm Ltd.</p>
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<p>If you wish to learn more about Python, start with the <a class="reference external" href="https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide">Beginner’s Guide to
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Python</a>.</p>
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</section>
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<section id="why-is-python-installed-on-my-machine">
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<h2>Why is Python installed on my machine?<a class="headerlink" href="#why-is-python-installed-on-my-machine" title="Link to this heading">¶</a></h2>
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<p>If you find Python installed on your system but don’t remember installing it,
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there are several possible ways it could have gotten there.</p>
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<ul class="simple">
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<li><p>Perhaps another user on the computer wanted to learn programming and installed
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it; you’ll have to figure out who’s been using the machine and might have
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installed it.</p></li>
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<li><p>A third-party application installed on the machine might have been written in
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Python and included a Python installation. There are many such applications,
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from GUI programs to network servers and administrative scripts.</p></li>
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<li><p>Some Windows machines also have Python installed. At this writing we’re aware
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of computers from Hewlett-Packard and Compaq that include Python. Apparently
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some of HP/Compaq’s administrative tools are written in Python.</p></li>
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<li><p>Many Unix-compatible operating systems, such as macOS and some Linux
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distributions, have Python installed by default; it’s included in the base
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installation.</p></li>
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</ul>
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<section id="can-i-delete-python">
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<h2>Can I delete Python?<a class="headerlink" href="#can-i-delete-python" title="Link to this heading">¶</a></h2>
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<p>That depends on where Python came from.</p>
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<p>If someone installed it deliberately, you can remove it without hurting
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anything. On Windows, use the Add/Remove Programs icon in the Control Panel.</p>
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<p>If Python was installed by a third-party application, you can also remove it,
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but that application will no longer work. You should use that application’s
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uninstaller rather than removing Python directly.</p>
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<p>If Python came with your operating system, removing it is not recommended. If
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you remove it, whatever tools were written in Python will no longer run, and
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some of them might be important to you. Reinstalling the whole system would
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then be required to fix things again.</p>
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<li><a class="reference internal" href="#what-is-python">What is Python?</a></li>
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<li><a class="reference internal" href="#why-is-python-installed-on-my-machine">Why is Python installed on my machine?</a></li>
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<li><a class="reference internal" href="#can-i-delete-python">Can I delete Python?</a></li>
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Last updated on Apr 08, 2025 (14:33 UTC).
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