source is not recognized as an internal or external command

# source is not recognized as an internal or external command

The error "'source' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file" occurs when we use the source command to activate a virtual environment on Windows.

To solve the error, use the venv\Scripts\activate command instead.

Open your shell in your project's root directory and run the following command to activate your virtual environment.

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

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

Make sure to use the correct command for CMD and PowerShell.

You can use the deactivate command if you need to deactivate the virtual environment.

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# 👇️ deactivate virtual environment
deactivate

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

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

Alternatively, you can use the universal venv\Scripts\activate command which works regardless if you use CMD or PowerShell.

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# 👇️ works for both CMD (Command Prompt) and PowerShell
venv\Scripts\activate

And here is the activation command for macOS and Linux.

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# 👇️ activate on Linux or MacOS
source venv/bin/activate

If you haven't created a virtual environment, make sure to create one first.

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# 👇️ use the correct version of Python when creating VENV
python -m venv venv

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

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

# 👇️ Activate on Unix or MacOS
source venv/bin/activate

# 👇️ install modules in the virtual environment
pip install requests

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

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

Your virtual environment will use the version of Python that was used to create it.

If you use Git Bash, you would have to use the source venv/Scripts/activate command.

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python -m venv venv

# 👇️ activate when using Git Bash
source venv/Scripts/activate

# 👇️ install modules in the virtual environment
pip install requests

If you still get an error when activating or creating your virtual environment, 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.

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

where python

For me, the path is the following.

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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.

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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.

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

• The term 'pip' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet
• pipenv is not recognized as an internal or external command
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• 'django-admin' is not recognized as an internal or external command