Here, we’ll show in detail how to install pip on Mac, as that is a prerequisite before actually beginning Python package management on the system.  

What is PIP?

PIP stands for “Pip Installs Packages,” which is actually the de facto package manager for installation and management of software libraries written in Python. It basically works like an installer used for installing, upgrading, and managing Python packages quite conveniently. It covers the basic needs while working with Python: installing libraries and modules for various purposes, ranging from web development to data analysis, or automation of tasks. 

PIP has grown to be an indispensable tool for anyone operating in Python environments. With PIP, it’s easy to avail oneself of Python’s ecosystem of packages and tools on the Python Package Index, PyPI, for developing and managing projects with much ease. Be it a newbie trying to install your very first package or even a seasoned full-stack developer tracking project dependencies across hundreds of packages; pip is a lifesaver, extending their Python installation with third-party libraries.

Install PIP on Mac

Installing PIP on Mac is essential for managing Python packages efficiently. In this tutorial, you will see how to get pip in three ways using ‘ensurepip’, Homebrew, and the ‘get-pip.py’ script.

Prerequisites

Before you can install PIP on Mac, make sure the following prerequisites are met: 

1. Admin Access: To install this application, you need an account with admin-level privileges.
2. Install Python 3: Python 2 is deprecated so most modern systems will already have Python 3 installed. To confirm Python 3 is installed on your Mac, open a terminal and run the following command: 

python3 --version

If Python3 is installed, you’ll see its version number. If not, you need to install it.  

3. Homebrew installed: You can install this – if you don’t have it – by running the following in the terminal:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)" 

How to Install PIP on Mac Using Ensurepip

Python 3.4 and later include a built-in module called ensurepip which can be used to bootstrap the pip installer into an existing Python installation or virtual environment. Usage is as follows:

Step 1: Open Terminal

You can find Terminal through Spotlight or by navigating to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

Step 2: Run ensurepip

Use the following command to check if PIP is available and install it using the ensurepip module:

python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade

This command will either install or upgrade PIP if already present on your system.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

After installation, confirm that PIP is installed correctly by checking the version:

pip3 --version

If installed properly, this will return the current version of PIP, if you encounter any errors, ensure that Python 3 is installed properly.

How to PIP Install on Mac using Homebrew

Homebrew is a popular package manager for macOS that simplifies the management and installation of software such as Git and so on. To understand how to install PIP on Mac python3 using Homebrew, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Homebrew

If you don’t have Homebrew installed, that can be installed with the next line in Terminal.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Step 2: Install Python using Homebrew

Once Homebrew is set up, install Python (which includes PIP) by executing:

brew install python

Step 3: Verify Installation

After installation, check if PIP is installed correctly by typing:

pip3 --version

This will show the version of PIP, confirming successful installation. If you encounter any issues with the path, run:

brew unlink python && brew link python

Using Homebrew not only installs Python but ensures that you have the latest version of both Python and PIP.

How to Install PIP on Mac Terminal Using get-pip.py

Another method of how to install PIP on Mac terminal is by using the get-pip.py script. This method is suitable for users who prefer a direct installation approach. It automatically downloads and installs the current pip package for Python. Follow the steps below to install PIP with get-pip.py:

Step 1: Download get-pip.py

Use the following command to download the installation script:

curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py

Step 2: Run the Script

Execute the downloaded script with Python 3:

python3 get-pip.py

This will install the latest version of PIP and any required dependencies.

Step 3: Verify Installation

To confirm that PIP has been successfully installed, check its version:

pip3 --version

Conclusion

As you can see, this tutorial has shown multiple ways of installing PIP on Mac using ensurepip, Homebrew, and the get-pip.py script. Be it as simple as maintaining the packages of Python running on your system or questions about how to install PIP on Mac vscode, each of these options puts you in control and will get PIP up in no time.