Python Windows Detection Scripts - Which Python Utilities

These utility scripts help you determine which Python installation you're currently using on Windows, including version details, installation paths, and system configuration.

Basic Python Detection Script #

Simple Version Checker #

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Output:

Click "Run Code" to see the output

Advanced Python Environment Scanner #

Complete System Analysis #

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import sys
import os
import subprocess
import platform
from pathlib import Path

def scan_python_environment():
    """Comprehensive Python environment scan for Windows"""
    
    print("=== Complete Python Environment Scan ===\n")
    
    # Basic system info
    print("1. SYSTEM INFORMATION")
    print(f"   OS: {platform.system()} {platform.release()}")
    print(f"   Architecture: {platform.machine()}")
    print(f"   Processor: {platform.processor()}")
    
    # Python installation details
    print("\n2. PYTHON INSTALLATION")
    print(f"   Version: {sys.version.split()[0]}")
    print(f"   Build: {platform.python_build()[0]}")
    print(f"   Compiler: {platform.python_compiler()}")
    print(f"   Executable: {sys.executable}")
    print(f"   Installation: {sys.prefix}")
    
    # Check pip availability
    print("\n3. PACKAGE MANAGER")
    try:
        import pip
        print(f"   pip Version: {pip.__version__}")
        print(f"   pip Location: {pip.__file__}")
    except ImportError:
        print("   pip: Not available")
    
    # Environment variables
    print("\n4. ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES")
    python_path = os.environ.get('PYTHONPATH', 'Not set')
    path_var = os.environ.get('PATH', '')
    python_in_path = any('python' in p.lower() for p in path_var.split(';'))
    
    print(f"   PYTHONPATH: {python_path}")
    print(f"   Python in PATH: {'Yes' if python_in_path else 'No'}")
    
    # Virtual environment detection
    print("\n5. VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT")
    venv = os.environ.get('VIRTUAL_ENV')
    if venv:
        print(f"   Active: {venv}")
    else:
        print("   Active: None")
    
    print(f"   In virtualenv: {hasattr(sys, 'real_prefix') or (hasattr(sys, 'base_prefix') and sys.base_prefix != sys.prefix)}")

scan_python_environment()

Output:

Click "Run Code" to see the output

Python Launcher Detection #

Windows Python Launcher (py.exe) Scanner #

import subprocess
import sys
import os

def detect_py_launcher():
    """Detect available Python versions via py.exe launcher"""
    
    print("=== Python Launcher Detection ===\n")
    
    try:
        # List all available Python versions
        result = subprocess.run(['py', '-0'], 
                               capture_output=True, text=True, shell=True)
        
        if result.returncode == 0:
            print("Available Python versions:")
            for line in result.stdout.strip().split('\n'):
                if line.strip():
                    print(f"  {line}")
        else:
            print("Python Launcher (py.exe) not available")
            
        # Show default version
        result = subprocess.run(['py', '--version'], 
                               capture_output=True, text=True, shell=True)
        if result.returncode == 0:
            print(f"\nDefault version: {result.stdout.strip()}")
            
    except FileNotFoundError:
        print("Python Launcher (py.exe) not found")
        print("Install from python.org to get the launcher")

# Run the detection
detect_py_launcher()

Registry-Based Python Detection #

Windows Registry Scanner #

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import sys
import os

def detect_registry_python():
    """Attempt to detect Python installations via common paths"""
    
    print("=== Registry-Style Python Detection ===\n")
    
    # Common Python installation paths on Windows
    common_paths = [
        r"C:\Python*",
        r"C:\Program Files\Python*",
        r"C:\Program Files (x86)\Python*",
        os.path.expanduser(r"~\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python*"),
        os.path.expanduser(r"~\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\python.exe")
    ]
    
    print("Scanning common Python installation paths:")
    
    found_installations = []
    
    # Check current Python
    current_python = sys.executable
    print(f"Current Python: {current_python}")
    found_installations.append(current_python)
    
    # Check PATH environment
    path_dirs = os.environ.get('PATH', '').split(';')
    python_in_path = []
    
    for path_dir in path_dirs:
        if path_dir and 'python' in path_dir.lower():
            python_exe = os.path.join(path_dir, 'python.exe')
            if os.path.exists(python_exe):
                python_in_path.append(python_exe)
    
    if python_in_path:
        print("\nPython executables found in PATH:")
        for exe in python_in_path:
            print(f"  {exe}")
            if exe not in found_installations:
                found_installations.append(exe)
    
    # Summary
    print(f"\nTotal Python installations detected: {len(found_installations)}")
    for i, installation in enumerate(found_installations, 1):
        print(f"  {i}. {installation}")

detect_registry_python()

Output:

Click "Run Code" to see the output

Environment Comparison Tool #

Multi-Version Comparison Script #

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import sys
import os
import platform
import subprocess

def compare_python_environments():
    """Compare current Python with system default"""
    
    print("=== Python Environment Comparison ===\n")
    
    # Current Python details
    print("CURRENT PYTHON SESSION:")
    print(f"  Executable: {sys.executable}")
    print(f"  Version: {sys.version.split()[0]}")
    print(f"  Platform: {platform.platform()}")
    
    # Try to get system Python via 'python' command
    print("\nSYSTEM 'python' COMMAND:")
    try:
        result = subprocess.run(['python', '--version'], 
                               capture_output=True, text=True, shell=True)
        if result.returncode == 0:
            print(f"  Version: {result.stdout.strip()}")
            
            # Get path of system python
            result = subprocess.run(['where', 'python'], 
                                   capture_output=True, text=True, shell=True)
            if result.returncode == 0:
                paths = result.stdout.strip().split('\n')
                print("  Locations:")
                for path in paths[:3]:  # Show first 3
                    print(f"    {path}")
        else:
            print("  Not available or not in PATH")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"  Error: {e}")
    
    # Python Launcher comparison
    print("\nPYTHON LAUNCHER (py.exe):")
    try:
        result = subprocess.run(['py', '--version'], 
                               capture_output=True, text=True, shell=True)
        if result.returncode == 0:
            print(f"  Default: {result.stdout.strip()}")
        else:
            print("  Not available")
    except:
        print("  Not available")
    
    # Virtual environment status
    print(f"\nVIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT:")
    venv_active = os.environ.get('VIRTUAL_ENV')
    if venv_active:
        print(f"  Active: {os.path.basename(venv_active)}")
        print(f"  Path: {venv_active}")
    else:
        print("  Active: None")
    
    in_venv = (hasattr(sys, 'real_prefix') or 
              (hasattr(sys, 'base_prefix') and sys.base_prefix != sys.prefix))
    print(f"  Detected: {in_venv}")

compare_python_environments()

Output:

Click "Run Code" to see the output

Quick Python Checker #

One-Line Detection Commands #

# Quick commands to check which Python on Windows

# Method 1: Basic version check
import sys; print(f"Python {sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor}.{sys.version_info.micro} at {sys.executable}")

# Method 2: Installation type detection
import sys; print("Microsoft Store" if "windowsapps" in sys.executable.lower() else "Official/Custom")

# Method 3: Virtual environment check
import sys, os; print(f"Venv: {os.path.basename(os.environ.get('VIRTUAL_ENV', 'None'))}")

# Method 4: Architecture check
import platform; print(f"{platform.python_version()} ({platform.architecture()[0]})")

Usage Examples #

Save Detection Results #

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Output:

Click "Run Code" to see the output

Summary #

These which Python Windows detection scripts help you:

Identify your current Python installation type and location
Compare multiple Python versions on your system
Verify environment variables and PATH configuration
Detect virtual environment status
Export Python configuration for troubleshooting

Use these utilities to quickly determine which Python installation you're working with on Windows systems.

PyGuide

PyGuide

Python Windows Detection Scripts - Which Python Utilities

Python Windows Detection Scripts - Which Python Utilities

Basic Python Detection Script #

Simple Version Checker #

🐍 Try it yourself

Advanced Python Environment Scanner #

Complete System Analysis #

🐍 Try it yourself

Python Launcher Detection #

Windows Python Launcher (py.exe) Scanner #

Registry-Based Python Detection #

Windows Registry Scanner #

🐍 Try it yourself

Environment Comparison Tool #

Multi-Version Comparison Script #

🐍 Try it yourself

Quick Python Checker #

One-Line Detection Commands #

Usage Examples #

Save Detection Results #

🐍 Try it yourself

Summary #

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