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Windows 10 Puts a dummy python.exe in AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps

Context

When a user installs a python distribution on Windows 10 and tries to run python from the CMD, Windows uses the dummy python.exe found in %USERPROFILE%\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps instead of the installed python.exe

The dummy python.exe in WindowsApps folder is just a link that opens the Microsoft Store instead of a real python executable.

Problem

How to get rid of this dummy python.exe?

Solution

Do the followings:

  1. Go to "Settings" --> "Apps"
  2. Under "Apps & features", click "App execution aliases"
  3. In the "App execution aliases" menu, turn off App installers for "python.exe" and "python3.exe"

Reference