'pyinstaller' is not recognized as an internal or external command

# 'pyinstaller' is not recognized as an internal or external command

The error "'pyinstaller' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file" occurs for 2 main reasons:

1. Using the pyinstaller module without having it installed.
2. Not having Python in your user's PATH environment variable.

Make sure you have pyinstaller installed by running the following command in cmd.

Copied!
pip install pyinstaller

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install pyinstaller

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install pyinstaller

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install pyinstaller

# 👇️ for Python 3
python3 -m pip install pyinstaller

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
pip install pyinstaller --user

You should now be able to use the pyinstaller command as follows.

Copied!
pyinstaller your_program.py

python -m pyinstaller your_program.py

py -m pyinstaller your_program.py

python 3 -m pyinstaller your_program.py

If the installation command doesn't succeed, try running CMD as an administrator.

To open CMD as an administrator:

1. Click on the Search bar and type CMD.

2. Right-click on the Command Prompt application and click "Run as administrator".

You can also try to upgrade the package with the --upgrade option.

Copied!
python -m pip install pyinstaller --upgrade

py -m pip install pyinstaller --upgrade

python3 -m pip install pyinstaller --upgrade

Alternatively, you can install the pyinstaller module in a virtual environment:

1. Open the root directory of your project.
2. Press Shift and right-click in Explorer.

3. Click on "Open PowerShell window here".
4. Run the following commands.

Copied!
# 👇️ might also be: "python3 -m venv venv"
python -m venv venv

# 👇️ Activate on Windows (PowerShell)
venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

# 👇️ Activate on Windows (cmd.exe)
venv\Scripts\activate.bat

# 👇️ install pyinstaller in the virtual environment
pip install pyinstaller

If the python -m venv venv command doesn't work, try the following 2 commands:

• py -m venv venv.
• python3 -m venv venv

If you see an error message that "ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system", run the following command, type "yes" when prompted and rerun the activation command.

Copied!
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Copied!
pip show pyinstaller
pip3 show pyinstaller

python -m pip show pyinstaller
py -m pip show pyinstaller
python3 -m pip show pyinstaller

The pip show pyinstaller command will either state that the package is not installed or show a bunch of information about the package, including the location where the package is installed.

If the error persists, you have to add Python to your user's PATH environment variable.

# Add Python to your user's PATH environment variable

To add Python to your user's PATH environment variable:

1. Click on the Search bar and type "environment variables".
2. Click on "Edit the system environment variables".

3. Click on the "Environment Variables" button.

4. In the "User variables for YOUR_USER" section, select the "Path" variable and click "Edit".

5. Click on "New" and then click "Browse".

6. You can use one of the following commands to check where your Python installation is located.

Copied!
python -c "import os, sys; print(os.path.dirname(sys.executable))"

where python

For me, the path is the following.

Copied!
C:\Users\YOUR_USER\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310

Note that I have Python 3.10 installed, which is reflected in the PATH.

7. Add the path to Python and then add the path to the Scripts directory that is located in your Python3X folder. This is where the executable files are located.

For me, it is the following path.

Copied!
C:\Users\YOUR_USER\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\Scripts

8. Once the two paths are added, confirm the changes by clicking on the "OK" button twice.

9. Close your Command prompt application and then reopen it.

You might also have to restart your PC, but that's not always necessary.

If you still encounter issues, try to add Python to your PATH using the official installer.

1. Download the installer from the official python.org website.

2. If you have Python already installed, start the installer and click on "Modify".

You can leave the optional features ticked.

3. On the "Advanced Options" screen, make sure to tick the "Add Python to environment variables" option.

4. Once the "Add Python to environment variables" checkbox is checked, click "Install".

If that didn't work, your Python installation might be corrupted.

Start the installer again and click on "Uninstall".

Now that you don't have Python installed on your machine, start the installer again and make sure to tick the "Add python.exe to PATH" option.

The checkbox won't be checked by default.

Once the "Add python.exe to PATH" checkbox is checked, click on "Install Now".

After the installation, Python will be installed and configured properly.

# Conclusion

To solve the error "'pyinstaller' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file", make sure:

1. You have the pyinstaller module installed before using it.
2. You have Python in your user's PATH environment variable.