The installer installs the `poetry` tool to Poetry's `bin` directory. This location depends on you system:
You only need to install Poetry once. It will automatically pick up the current
Python version and use it to [create virtualenvs](/docs/managing-environments) accordingly.
-`$HOME/.local/bin` for Unix
-`%APPDATA%\Python\Scripts` on Windows
The installer installs the `poetry` tool to Poetry's `bin` directory.
On Unix it is located at `$HOME/.poetry/bin` and on Windows at `%USERPROFILE%\.poetry\bin`.
If this directory is not on you `PATH`, you will need to add it manually
if you want to invoke Poetry with simply `poetry`.
This directory will be automatically added to your `$PATH` environment variable,
by appending a statement to your `$HOME/.profile` configuration (or equivalent files).
If you do not feel comfortable with this, please pass the `--no-modify-path` flag to
the installer and manually add the Poetry's `bin` directory to your path.
Alternatively, you can use the full path to `poetry` to use it.
Finally, open a new shell and type the following:
Once Poetry is installed you can execute the following:
```bash
poetry --version
```
If you see something like `Poetry 0.12.0` then you are ready to use Poetry.
If you see something like `Poetry (version 1.2.0)` then you are ready to use Poetry.
If you decide Poetry isn't your thing, you can completely remove it from your system
by running the installer again with the `--uninstall` option or by setting
the `POETRY_UNINSTALL` environment variable before executing the installer.
```bash
python get-poetry.py --uninstall
POETRY_UNINSTALL=1 python get-poetry.py
python install-poetry.py --uninstall
POETRY_UNINSTALL=1 python install-poetry.py
```
By default, Poetry is installed into the user's platform-specific home directory. If you wish to change this, you may define the `POETRY_HOME` environment variable:
By default, Poetry is installed into the user's platform-specific home directory.
If you wish to change this, you may define the `POETRY_HOME` environment variable:
```bash
POETRY_HOME=/etc/poetry python get-poetry.py
POETRY_HOME=/etc/poetry python install-poetry.py
```
If you want to install prerelease versions, you can do so by passing `--preview`to `get-poetry.py`
If you want to install prerelease versions, you can do so by passing `--preview`option to `install-poetry.py`
or by using the `POETRY_PREVIEW` environment variable:
```bash
python get-poetry.py --preview
POETRY_PREVIEW=1 python get-poetry.py
python install-poetry.py --preview
POETRY_PREVIEW=1 python install-poetry.py
```
Similarly, if you want to install a specific version, you can use `--version` or the `POETRY_VERSION`
Similarly, if you want to install a specific version, you can use `--version` option or the `POETRY_VERSION`
environment variable:
```bash
python get-poetry.py --version 0.12.0
POETRY_VERSION=0.12.0 python get-poetry.py
python install-poetry.py --version 1.2.0
POETRY_VERSION=1.2.0 python install-poetry.py
```
!!!note
Note that the installer does not support Poetry releases < 0.12.0.
!!!note
The setup script must be able to find one of following executables in your shell's path environment:
- `python` (which can be a py3 or py2 interpreter)
- `python3`
- `py.exe -3` (Windows)
- `py.exe -2` (Windows)
You can also install Poetry for a `git` repository by using the `--git` option:
### Alternative installation methods (not recommended)
Using alternative installation methods will make Poetry always
use the Python version for which it has been installed to create
virtualenvs.
So, you will need to install Poetry for each Python version you
want to use and switch between them.
#### Installing with `pip`
Using `pip` to install Poetry is possible.
```bash
pip install --user poetry
```
Note that the installer does not support Python < 3.6.
!!!warning
Be aware that it will also install Poetry's dependencies
which might cause conflicts with other packages.
### Alternative installation methods
#### Installing with `pipx`
Using [`pipx`](https://github.com/cs01/pipx) to install Poetry is also possible. `pipx` is used to install Python CLI applications globally while still isolating them in virtual environments. This allows for clean upgrades and uninstalls. `pipx` supports Python 3.6 and later. If using an earlier version of Python, consider [`pipsi`](https://github.com/mitsuhiko/pipsi).
Using [`pipx`](https://github.com/pipxproject/pipx) to install Poetry is also possible.
`pipx` is used to install Python CLI applications globally while still isolating them in virtual environments.
