Install on macOS

Install Python on a Mac using the graphical Anaconda installer.

Download

1. Open Apple menu → About This Mac and check the chip and macOS version.
2. Open the Anaconda download page.1 For a supported Apple silicon Mac, choose the macOS graphical installer (.pkg).
3. Save the installer in Downloads.

Intel Mac: current Anaconda releases no longer target Intel Macs. Check the official compatibility guidance before using an archived Intel installer.2

Install

1. Open the .pkg file from Finder → Downloads.
2. Select Continue, read the licence agreement and accept it to proceed.
3. Review the installation location. The current graphical installer uses /opt/anaconda3.
4. Select Install and provide the macOS authorisation requested by the installer.
5. When installation succeeds, close the installer and open a new Terminal window using Spotlight (Command+Space, then type Terminal).

Verify

1. In Terminal, enter:

conda activate base
conda list

The second command should display package names and versions.

2. Check Python:

python --version

The result should begin with Python 3; the release number may differ from examples in the book.

Test Python

1. Start Python:

python

2. At >>>, type the statement below without the prompt symbols:

print("Hello from Python!")

The output is:

Hello from Python!

3. Enter exit() to return to Terminal.

Troubleshooting

• conda is not found: reopen Terminal. If necessary, follow the official shell-initialisation instructions for the recorded installation location.
• Another Python starts: activate base, then use python -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)" to check its location.
• The installer reports an incompatible package: first check system compatibility. The official guide also documents a destination-permission issue; its Change Install Location… control is shown in Figure 3.3