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Jupyter Notebook is not installed with Windows 11 or with Python itself. Install Python first, create an isolated virtual environment, and then install the notebook package into that environment.
The simplest setup uses Python’s current Windows Install Manager and pip. Conda is a better fit if you already use Anaconda, Miniconda, or Miniforge for data-science environments.
Before you start
Windows 11 does not include a system-supported Python installation. You need both:
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- The Jupyter Notebook package installed into that runtime.
As of August 7, 2026, Python 3.14.7 is the latest stable release listed by python.org. Python 3.14 supports Windows 10 and newer, so it also supports Windows 11. Python 3.13 and 3.12 are also supported choices when a project requires one of those versions.
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Do not install Python 3.9 for a new setup: it reached end of life on October 31, 2025.
Method 1: Install Jupyter Notebook with Python and pip
1. Install Python
Download the Python Install Manager from python.org/downloads, or install it from the Microsoft Store. The two versions are identical according to the Python documentation.
For the python.org download:
- Download the installer.
- Double-click the downloaded file.
- Select Install.
If you downloaded an MSIX package and prefer PowerShell, install it with:
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAdd-AppxPackage <path to MSIX>After installation, open a new PowerShell or Command Prompt window and check that the Python commands are available:
python --version
py --version
pymanager --versionThe Python Install Manager should make python, py, and pymanager available. If Windows reports that a command is not recognized, an older Python installation or a manually edited PATH may be interfering. Close and reopen the terminal first, then see the troubleshooting section below.
2. Create a folder for the notebook project
Use a normal user-writable folder rather than installing packages into Windows system directories. For example, in PowerShell:
mkdir $HOMEjupyter-project
cd $HOMEjupyter-project3. Create a virtual environment
A virtual environment keeps Jupyter and the project’s other packages separate from Python installations and from other projects.
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4. Activate the environment
In PowerShell, run:
..venvScriptsActivate.ps1In Command Prompt, run:
.venvScriptsactivateWhen activation succeeds, the terminal prompt normally begins with (.venv).
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If PowerShell blocks the activation script with an execution-policy error, you can use Command Prompt instead, or allow locally created scripts for your user account:
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSignedConfirm the change if prompted, then run the PowerShell activation command again.
5. Install the Notebook package
With (.venv) visible in the prompt, install Jupyter Notebook using the environment’s Python interpreter:
python -m pip install notebookUsing python -m pip is preferable to a bare pip command because it makes clear which Python installation receives the package. The current Project Jupyter installation instructions use the package name notebook; pip install jupyter is an older, unnecessary instruction for this setup.
6. Start Jupyter Notebook
jupyter notebookJupyter starts a local server, normally at http://localhost:8888, and usually opens your default web browser automatically. Keep the terminal window open while you work. It is running the server.
To stop the server, return to that terminal and press Ctrl+C. If Jupyter asks for confirmation, press Ctrl+C again to skip the confirmation.
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Create and run your first notebook
- Open the Jupyter page in your browser.
- Browse to the folder where you want the file stored.
- Select New, then choose Python.
- Enter a cell such as
print("Hello from Windows 11"). - Run the cell with Shift+Enter.
Jupyter saves the notebook as an .ipynb file. The file stores code cells, output, and notebook metadata.
Useful Jupyter commands
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Start Notebook | jupyter notebook |
| Use a different port | jupyter notebook --port 9999 |
| Start without opening a browser | jupyter notebook --no-browser |
| Open one notebook directly | jupyter notebook notebook.ipynb |
| Show available options | jupyter notebook --help |
If port 8888 is already in use, Jupyter normally searches for the next available port. You can choose one explicitly with --port.
Method 2: Install Jupyter with conda
Conda is useful when you need multiple isolated environments or scientific packages with compiled dependencies. Current Windows choices include:
| Distribution | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| Miniconda | A small conda installation where you choose the packages. |
| Anaconda Distribution | A broad data-science package collection and Anaconda Navigator. |
| Miniforge | A conda-forge-focused installation maintained by the conda-forge community. |
1. Download and install conda
Download the Windows installer from the official conda Windows installation page. Verify the installer’s SHA-256 hash when possible. In PowerShell, the verification command is:
Get-FileHash filename -Algorithm SHA256Replace filename with the downloaded installer’s path. Double-click the .exe file and follow the setup wizard. Accept the defaults if you are unsure which options to choose.
A user installation in a writable location does not require administrator permissions. For example, conda can be installed under C:Users<username>conda.
After installation, open the appropriate Start-menu shortcut:
- Anaconda Command Prompt for Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda.
- Miniforge Command Prompt for Miniforge.
PowerShell shortcuts may also be available.
2. Verify conda
conda listA package list indicates that conda is installed and available in that prompt.
3. Create an environment and install Notebook
conda create -n jupyter python
conda activate jupyter
python -m pip install notebook
jupyter notebookThe first command creates an environment named jupyter. The second activates it. The third installs classic Jupyter Notebook into that environment, and the final command starts the server.
For JupyterLab rather than the classic Notebook interface, Project Jupyter recommends the conda-forge channel when installing with conda or mamba. That recommendation is specific to JupyterLab; it does not change the pip command for classic Notebook.
Fix common Windows 11 installation problems
“python” is not recognized
Open a new terminal after installing Python. If it still fails, check which commands Windows can find:
where python
where py
where pymanagerExisting Python installations, stale aliases, or a manually modified PATH can cause the Install Manager commands to resolve incorrectly. Windows may also open the Microsoft Store when you type python. Review the Windows app execution aliases under Settings if the alias is redirecting the command unexpectedly.
Jupyter installed, but “jupyter” is not recognized
This usually means that the package was installed into one Python environment while the terminal is using another, or that the relevant scripts directory is not on PATH.
First activate the environment and reinstall or verify the package:
..venvScriptsActivate.ps1
python -m pip show notebook
python -m jupyter notebookpython -m jupyter notebook bypasses the standalone jupyter.exe lookup and is a useful diagnostic. If it works, the package is installed but the environment’s scripts directory is not being found. The scripts directory belongs to the particular Python runtime or virtual environment; package commands such as jupyter.exe cannot be called globally unless that directory is available through PATH.
Python works, but the wrong version starts
Compare the available interpreters:
python --version
py --list
where pythonUse the interpreter associated with the project’s environment rather than relying on a global command. Activating .venv and then using python -m pip avoids most version-mixing problems.
The browser does not open
Look at the terminal output for the local URL and copy it into a browser. You can also start Jupyter without automatic browser launching:
jupyter notebook --no-browserPort 8888 is busy
Start Notebook on another port:
jupyter notebook --port 9999Open the URL printed in the terminal. Do not close the terminal until you are finished.
Installation fails with a long-path error
Windows has historically imposed a 260-character path limit. Long paths can be enabled by an administrator through Group Policy using Enable Win32 long paths, or by setting LongPathsEnabled to 1 at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlFileSystemA shorter project path, such as C:workjupyter, is often the simpler workaround on managed computers.
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Updating or removing the setup
To update Notebook while the virtual environment is active:
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python -m pip install --upgrade notebookTo leave the environment:
deactivateTo remove the pip-based environment, delete the project’s .venv folder after deactivating it. Your notebooks outside that folder are not removed.
For conda, activate the environment before updating or remove it when it is no longer needed:
conda activate jupyter
python -m pip install --upgrade notebook
conda deactivate
conda env remove -n jupyterFAQ
Does installing Jupyter Notebook install Python too?
No. Python is a prerequisite. Install a supported Python runtime first, then install the notebook package into a Python environment.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWhat is the correct pip command for Jupyter Notebook?
For the classic Notebook interface, use python -m pip install notebook. This installs the package into the Python interpreter selected by the active environment.
Should I use Python 3.14 on Windows 11?
Python 3.14 is a supported Windows 11 choice and, as of August 7, 2026, Python 3.14.7 is the latest stable release. Use Python 3.13 or 3.12 instead if a project’s packages require a specific older version.
Why does pip work but jupyter not work?
The package may have been installed into a different Python installation, or the environment’s scripts directory may not be on PATH. Activate the intended environment and try python -m jupyter notebook.
Can I install Jupyter Notebook without administrator access?
Yes. A Python virtual environment or a user-level conda installation normally does not require administrator permissions. Avoid protected system directories.
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Return to the terminal running the server and press Ctrl+C. Press it twice if Jupyter displays a confirmation prompt.
The Bottom Line
For most Windows 11 users, the clean setup is: install Python, create .venv, activate it, run python -m pip install notebook, and start Jupyter with jupyter notebook. Use Miniconda, Anaconda, or Miniforge when you specifically need conda environments or a larger scientific-package workflow.
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