Install PyCharm on Windows — step by step
- 1
Download the installer
Get
pycharm-community-2026.1.1.exefrom the download page. The file is ~600 MB. - 2
Run the installer
Double-click the .exe. The PyCharm Setup wizard opens. Click Next.
- 3
Choose install options
Check these options: Add launchers to PATH (lets you run
pycharmfrom terminal), Create Desktop Shortcut, Associate .py files. - 4
Click Install
Click Install. Wait 2–5 minutes. No reboot required.
- 5
Configure Python interpreter on first run
Launch PyCharm. On the welcome screen: New Project → set Python interpreter → choose your Python installation or create a virtual environment. See the venv guide or Conda guide.
Install questions
Do I need to install Python separately for PyCharm?
PyCharm is an IDE — it does not include Python itself. You need Python installed separately. Download Python from python.org, or use Anaconda/Miniconda. When creating a new project in PyCharm, it will detect installed Python versions automatically.
How long does PyCharm take to install on Windows?
The installation takes 2–5 minutes on most machines. First launch takes 1–2 minutes as PyCharm indexes your project files. Subsequent launches are faster.