How to Install Python on Windows Server

Python is an excellent general purpose language that can be used for batch processing and other tasks on your server.

To install Python on Windows Server operating system, you just need to run the installer and use the simplest configuration.

Steps to Install Python on Windows Server Operating System

1. Download the installer (full as opposed to the web sintaller) and save it to your temp folder.

   

2. Right-click on the file and select Run as administrator.

   

3. You’ll see a User Account Control popup window with a question, “Do you want to allow the following program to make changes to this computer?” Just click on Yes.

4. Check the Add Python 3.7 to PATH checkbox at the bottom of the window (or whatever the latest version you’re installing).

   

If you don’t care where the program is installed, you can just clik on the Install Now, there’s nothing wrong with the setup and Python will run and this is generally fine for desktop installation.

For server installation, you should be more mindful with the program location better location rather than the default installation under a specific user folder who ran the installer. So it’s better to choose Customize installation.

5. In Optional Features screen, make sure you at least check the following: pip, py launcher, and for all users. Click Next.

   

6. On the next screen, Advanced Options, make sure you check Install for all users which then will change the value of Customize install location, just accept the default installation in C:\Program Files unless you have a reason to install it somewhere else. Click Install.

   

7. Once you see Setup was successful just click the Close button.

8. Make sure that C:\Program Files\Python37 and C:\Program Files\Python37\Scripts are in the Path of your System variables.

   

   If you’re able to click on Edit button, you can see all the path entries in each line which is easier to read and edit. In this case, the button is greyed out due to the group policy.

As a final check, you can open Programs and Features and check if Python and Python Launcher are shown.

That’s all there is to have your server running Python scripts.

If you work mostly with Microsoft stack and need to connect to a SQL Server database using Python, then check this post about Python SQL Server Driver.

Further Reading

How to Use Python to Connect to SQL Server

Download

Python Download