# Having an issue on windows 11 with PIP

**URL:** <https://discuss.python.org/t/having-an-issue-on-windows-11-with-pip/16477>\
**Category:** Python Help\
**Tags:** help\
**Created:** [June 13, 2022, 1:51am UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/having-an-issue-on-windows-11-with-pip/16477 "2022-06-13T01:51:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jacob.v](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/jacob.v/32/19273_2.png) [@jacob.v](https://discuss.python.org/u/jacob.v)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 1:51am UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/having-an-issue-on-windows-11-with-pip/16477/1 "2022-06-13T01:51:04Z")

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Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '“C:\Program Files\Python39\python.exe” “C:\Program Files\Python39\Scripts\pip.exe” ': The system cannot find the file specified.

This occurs when trying to execute PIP. I believe the issue is with environment variables but adding the path to environment variables has not helped. I even uninstalled and reinstalled python and had the same problem.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eryksun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/eryksun/32/697_2.png) [@eryksun](https://discuss.python.org/u/eryksun)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/having-an-issue-on-windows-11-with-pip/16477/2 "2022-06-13T13:38:43Z")

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It seems you have an old “pip.exe” that refers to a “python.exe” executable that no longer exists (i.e. “C:\Program Files\Python39\python.exe”). The shell found the broken “pip.exe” by searching the directories in the `PATH` environment variable sequentially from beginning to end.

Check `where.exe pip` and note the directory of the first result. Check the installed locations of Python with `py.exe -0p`. Decide which installation you want to use. In the system environment variable editor, modify `PATH` to prefer the installation directory and “Scripts” directory of the desired version. Take into account that the user value of `PATH` gets appended to the system value, so the system `PATH` has priority.

Alternatively, you can run pip for any installed version via `py.exe [-X[.Y][-32]] -m pip`. If no version is specified on the command line, then the “py.exe” launcher uses an active virtual environment, if any, or the configured default version in the `PY_PYTHON` environment variable, if set, else the highest installed version of Python.