from pathlib import Path
downloads_path = str(Path.home() / "Downloads")
Answer from Shmidt on Stack OverflowHow can I find the path to the "Downloads" folder using Python on any version of Windows?
How can I find where Python is installed on Windows? - Stack Overflow
Python Installation
I cant download Python with PATH
from pathlib import Path
downloads_path = str(Path.home() / "Downloads")
This fairly simple solution (expanded from this reddit post) worked for me
import os
def get_download_path():
"""Returns the default downloads path for linux or windows"""
if os.name == 'nt':
import winreg
sub_key = r'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders'
downloads_guid = '{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}'
with winreg.OpenKey(winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, sub_key) as key:
location = winreg.QueryValueEx(key, downloads_guid)[0]
return location
else:
return os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), 'downloads')
- The GUID can be obtained from Microsoft's
KNOWNFOLDERIDdocs - This can be expanded to work more generically other directories
Hey everyone,
I'm working on a Python project where I need to access the user's "Downloads" folder. However, I'm having trouble finding a reliable way to get the path to this folder that works on any version of Windows (10/11).
I've tried using the os.path.expanduser()function and the USERPROFILEenvironment variable, but it seems like the path to the "Downloads" folder can vary depending on the language version of Windows.
Does anyone know of a way to find the path to the "Downloads" folder that works on any version of Windows using Python?
Thanks in advance!
Edit: StackOverflow suggested a working solution: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/75807152/how-to-find-the-path-to-the-downloads-folder-using-python-on-windows-10-11
Edit2: Since the SO moderators have marked my question as a duplicate of a question that asks about something completely different, I'm afraid it will be deleted. I am posting here a snippet of the code that worked in my case
import winreg
reg_key = winreg.OpenKey(winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, r"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders")
downloads_path = winreg.QueryValueEx(reg_key, "{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}")[0] winreg.CloseKey(reg_key)
print(downloads_path)In your Python interpreter, type the following commands:
>>> import os, sys
>>> os.path.dirname(sys.executable)
'C:\\Python25'
Also, you can club all these and use a single line command. Open cmd and enter following command
python -c "import os, sys; print(os.path.dirname(sys.executable))"
If you have Python in your environment variable then you can use the following command in cmd or powershell:
where python
or for Unix enviroment
which python
command line image :

Every time i try installing it with PATH (thats what every tutorial says) it fails and says it failed and my system administrator forbids this but its my personal computer and i dont have one i cant figure out what to do please help me