Can't update pip in VS code. Says { unknown command "update"}

Question

OS: Win10

Environment: Visual Studio code

What I want to achieve: Update pip from 22.0.4 to 22.1

What I tried and get:

1. python -m pip install -–upgrade pip

get:

python : The term 'python' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, 
or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ python -m pip install -–upgrade pip
+ ~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (python:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

2. sudo pip3 install --upgrade pip

get:

sudo : The term 'sudo' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or    
if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ sudo pip3 install --upgrade pip
+ ~~~~
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

3. pip update

get:

ERROR: unknown command "update"

4. check if python installed in this location:

py -3 --version

get:

Python 3.10.4

5. check if pip installed in this location:

pip --version

get

> pip 22.0.4 from
> C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\lib\site-packages\pip
> (python 3.10)

6. use "python3" instead of "python"

python3 -m pip install -–upgrade pip

get:

> > `python3 : The term 'python3' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling
> of the  name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is
> correct and try again. At line:1 char:1
> + python3 -m pip install -–upgrade pip
> + ~~~~~~~
>     + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (python3:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
>     + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException`

Problem: I can't update pip in VS code, what else should I try or check?

Answer 1

You are really close. Based on your errors this should work:

py -3 -m pip install --upgrade pip

Or

pip install --upgrade pip

Make sure to run this in a administrator command prompt. Right click cmd and select "run as administrator". This will avoid permission errors.

Why your other options don't work

1. python -m pip install -–upgrade pip: Doesn't work since python is installed as py -3 not as python.
2. sudo pip3 install --upgrade pip. Sudo is a linux only command
3. pip update. update is not a pip command. Why didn't you just use install --upgrade pip here? The error shows pip is installed and called pip so that would work.
4. python3 -m pip install -–upgrade pip. Python isn't called python3 either, but py -3. Overall the py -x syntax is the most reliable way to get python on windows.

What is py -3

py -3 is a windows utility that finds python. It's pretty versatile, for example you can type py -3.9 to get specifically the 3.9 version.

Answer 2

You can try to use a cmd/powershell if on windows or terminal if on linux. Just paste the same command and try it

Hope it helps

If it doesn't work i think that you haven't added python/pip to path.

Answer 3

I recommend trying CMD for that, if still not working, try adding your python path to the system variables. If you don't know how to do that here a tutorial for you: https://www.makeuseof.com/python-windows-path/