# Creating Python Virtual Environments on Windows 11

This guide details how to set up a Python virtual environment specifically on Windows 11, utilizing the modern Windows Terminal and PowerShell.

## Prerequisites

Ensure Python is installed and added to your PATH.
1. Open **Terminal** (PowerShell).
2. Type `python --version`. If you see a version number, you are ready.

## Step 1: Open Your Project Folder

Windows 11 makes this easy:
1.  Navigate to your project folder in **File Explorer**.
2.  Right-click anywhere in the empty space.
3.  Select **Open in Terminal**.

## Step 2: Create the Virtual Environment

Run the following command to create a virtual environment named `.venv` (a common convention).

```powershell
python -m venv .venv
```

This creates a folder named `.venv` containing a copy of the Python interpreter and a `Scripts` folder.

## Step 3: Activate the Environment

In Windows 11, the default terminal uses PowerShell. To activate the environment:

```powershell
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
```

### Troubleshooting: Execution Policy Error

If you see an error in red text saying "running scripts is disabled on this system", you need to change your execution policy. This is a default security feature in Windows.

To allow scripts for the current user only (safe):

```powershell
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
```

Then try running the activate command again.

## Step 4: Verify Activation

Once activated, you should see `(.venv)` at the start of your command prompt line. You can also verify by checking which python is being used:

```powershell
where.exe python
```

It should point to the python executable inside your `.venv` folder, not the system one.

## Step 5: Install Packages

Now you can install packages safely isolated from your main system.

```powershell
pip install requests
```

[[programming/python/python]]