Install Pip on Mac

If you use your Mac for programming, you may encounter problems if pip isn’t installed, as it’s required to work with apps that use the Python language. Although pip is usually installed automatically when you install Python, if programs aren’t working normally, it may be because you don’t have it downloaded on your computer, or because it’s not installed correctly.

So, how do you install pip on your Mac? Read on to find out.

What is pip on Mac

Pip, also known as pip3, stands for preferred installer program or pip installs packages. This package management system, as the name suggests, is used to install and manage software and libraries, particularly for Python apps. Usually, pip comes pre-installed with Python version 3.4 and later.

Additionally, the packages for pip can be found in the Python Package Index, or PyPI, which is the software repository for the Python programming language.

A note from our experts:

 

Pip is an essential app for working with Python on your Mac. However, if your Mac is overloaded with various applications and tasks, it can slow down your device. To optimise your Mac's performance and stop unnecessary processes, use MacKeeper's Memory Cleaner.

 

How to use MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner on your device:

1. Download MacKeeper and install it on your Mac.
2. Go to the Performance section and select Memory Cleaner.
3. Click Open.
4. Tap Clean Memory.

What to do before installing pip on macOS

To install pip on a Mac, you’ll need a running macOS system (take a look at the full list of macOS and OS X versions), Python installed on it, and a user account with admin privileges.

Before installing pip on macOS, you should:

1. View your Python version
2. Check if pip is installed on your Mac

1. View your Python version

To check the version of Python installed on your Mac:

1. Go to Finder, then click Applications from the left-side bar.
2. Open the Utilities folder and launch Terminal.
3. Type the following command (!without the full stop): python --version.
4. Press the Return key.

If you have Python installed, you’ll see the version there.

2. Check if pip is installed on your Mac

To verify if pip is already installed on your Mac:

1. Go to Finder and select the Applications folder on your left.
2. Double-click on the Utilities folder, then launch Terminal.
3. Type the following command (!without the full stop): pip --version.
4. Press the Return key.

If you get a positive result, it means pip is installed.

How to install pip on Mac

Once all the checks are complete, and if you’ve confirmed that pip is actually not installed on your computer, the next step is to download pip on Mac. You have several options at your fingertips to do this:

1. Via ensurepip
2. Using Homebrew
3. With get-pip.py

1. Via ensurepip

Although we believe it’s the best way to download pip on a Mac, we recommend that you check the following pros and cons before you decide on this method:

If you end up choosing the ensurepip route to install pip on Mac, follow these steps:

1. Open Finder on your Mac and select Applications.
2. Open Utilities, then launch Terminal.
3. Type the following command (!without the full stop): python -m ensurepip.
4. Press the Return key.

2. Using Homebrew

Alternatively, you can opt for the Homebrew package manager, which also has its own advantages and disadvantages:

Do you like what Homebrew has to offer? First, you’ll need to install Homebrew on your Mac:

1. Launch Finder and choose the Applications folder on your left.
2. Launch the Utilities folders, then double-click on Terminal.
3. Copy and paste the following command: /bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”
4. Press Return, and press Return again after a list of folders appears.
5. If prompted, type in your admin password.
6. You should see a message stating the installation’s been successful.

Now, it’s time to install pip:

1. Go to Terminal again.
2. Type the following command (!without the full stop): brew install python.
3. Press Return.
4. Once the installation is complete, type (!without the full stop): brew unlink python && brew link python.
5. Press Return.

3. With get-pip.py

If none of the methods above are right for you, we suggest you trying a third option, get-pip.py, although you might want to check the pros and cons first as it’s not the most recommended method.

If you opt for this online script, follow these simple instructions:

1. Launch Finder on your Apple computer.
2. Select Applications from the left-side bar.
3. Open the Utilities folder, find Terminal, and launch it.
4. Type the following command (!without the full stop): curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py.
5. Press the Return key.
6. Once the script has loaded, type this (!without the full stop): python3 get-pip.py.
7. Press Return.

How to verify pip installation on MacBook

Verifying if the pip installation on your MacBook was done correctly goes like this:

1. Launch Terminal by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities.
2. Type this command (!without the full stop): python3 -m pip --version.
3. Press Return.

Hint from our team:

 

If you encounter any issues when executing a command on your Mac, follow our team of experts’ advice on permissions denied in Zsh.

How to upgrade pip on Mac via Terminal

Follow these steps to update pip on macOS:

1. Open Terminal by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities.
2. Type this command (!without the full stop): python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip.
3. Press Return.

How to remove any previous installation of pip (if necessary)

If you wish to remove Python from Mac, use another pip installation method or fix any errors. Do the following to uninstall pip:

1. Launch Finder on your Mac or MacBook.
2. Choose Applications from the left-side bar, then open the Utilities folder.
3. Find Terminal in the Utilities folder and launch it.
4. Type the following command (!without the full stop): pip uninstall pip.
5. Press Return.
6. Confirm by typing Y.
7. Press Return.

Important: 

 

Meanwhile, to gain even more valuable space on your MacBook, check our other relevant article to uninstall Anaconda from Mac if you have any issues with its performance.

Best way to install pip on macOS

Are you looking to use pip install on Mac? There are various methods to install pip on macOS, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. However, our team of experts recommends using ensurepip, as it’s a simple and easy method that doesn’t require an Internet connection and is compatible with many Python versions.

Regardless of the method you choose, you should always prepare your computer before downloading and installing a new program on Mac. You can use a tool like MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller to ensure that the installation process doesn’t negatively impact your Mac’s performance. Try this:

1. Launch the MacKeeper app on your device.
2. Choose the Smart Uninstaller tab under the Cleaning section on the left-side menu.
3. Click the Start Scan button.
4. Then, select the categories you want to do a smart cleaning and click Remove Selected.
5. Wait until the scan is complete.
6. Click Remove to confirm.