# Checking python version

**URL:** <https://discourse.psychopy.org/t/checking-python-version/33719>\
**Category:** Builder\
**Created:** [March 9, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://discourse.psychopy.org/t/checking-python-version/33719 "2023-03-09T03:51:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![frankgarcea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@frankgarcea](https://discourse.psychopy.org/u/frankgarcea)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://discourse.psychopy.org/t/checking-python-version/33719/1 "2023-03-09T03:51:38Z")

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I’m running PsychoPy 2022.2.5 on a Mac Monterrey (12.6.3).

I’m curious if there is a way to check which version of python I’m using. Is it as simple as navigating to this folder to see if I’m using python 3.8?

/Applications/PsychoPy.app/Contents/Resources/lib/

I ask because I’ve had persistent issues running experiments. Sometimes my picture naming task will just crash midway through the task. I’ve documented it here…

> [@Saving trial-level audio output in real time](https://discourse.psychopy.org/t/saving-trial-level-audio-output-in-real-time/32962/8):
>
> I just encountered a different error with the same surface level behavior. In sum: A picture is presented. We record a verbal response and the trial ends when the experimenter hits a button to advance to the next trial. Trials will randomly “freeze” with the stimulus on the screen. I realized info from the log file might be helpful… Generating PsychoPy script… 2023-03-02 12:37:28.707 python[2176:32599] ApplePersistenceIgnoreState: Existing state will not be touched. New state will be written t…

I’m wondering if my experiment will occasionally crash because of the python version. I’m getting an ‘ApplePersistenceIgnoreState’ error when the picture naming task crashes. The error is documented in the link above.

I created a conda environment using the yml file provided on the PsychoPy website, but when I tried running ‘psychopy’ in terminal I couldn’t get the app to open. It’s really puzzling.

Any input is welcomed,  
FG

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**Author:** ![jacanterbury](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.psychopy.org/jacanterbury/32/853_2.png) [@jacanterbury](https://discourse.psychopy.org/u/jacanterbury)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 11:31am UTC](https://discourse.psychopy.org/t/checking-python-version/33719/2 "2025-02-04T11:31:23Z")

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I’d like an easy way to find out what version of Python each PsychoPy install uses too, Ideally without having to first install it.  
Could this be added into the release information - I’ve had a look and it doesn’t seem to be there at present.  
My reason is that cyber security is increasingly having a major impact on what software we’re allowed/can easily install and so having this information easily available would be really nice.  
Thanks, John

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**Author:** ![wakecarter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.psychopy.org/wakecarter/32/5753_2.png) [@wakecarter](https://discourse.psychopy.org/u/wakecarter)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 11:37am UTC](https://discourse.psychopy.org/t/checking-python-version/33719/3 "2025-02-04T11:37:55Z")

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It’s in the installation file name

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/psychopy/original/3X/a/f/afe44a21c36fd6a715fd2f9293ad483a7a077b13.png)

and Help / System Info

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/psychopy/original/3X/9/6/960b24e59b7cc1c3a60067fd3c4f1a993eecc1b0.png)

and %AppData%

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/psychopy/original/3X/a/7/a758db349d19fdfce5a085fc1eedb2354c244fdb.png)

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**Author:** ![jacanterbury](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.psychopy.org/jacanterbury/32/853_2.png) [@jacanterbury](https://discourse.psychopy.org/u/jacanterbury)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 12:41pm UTC](https://discourse.psychopy.org/t/checking-python-version/33719/4 "2025-02-04T12:41:14Z")

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that’s great for the future, though what prompted it was wanting to know the version associated with 2014.1.4  
whose file is…  
StandalonePsychoPy-2024.1.4-win64.exe

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**Author:** ![wakecarter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.psychopy.org/wakecarter/32/5753_2.png) [@wakecarter](https://discourse.psychopy.org/u/wakecarter)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://discourse.psychopy.org/t/checking-python-version/33719/5 "2025-02-04T13:10:57Z")

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From [Changelog — PsychoPy v2024.2.5](https://psychopy.org/changelog.html) I can see that the standalone distribution started using Python 3.8 from 2022.1.0. Before that I think it was Python 3.6, unless you go back to PsychoPy 1.90.0 which had standalone distrubutions for Python 2.7 as well as 3.6.

I’m pretty sure that Python 3.10 was only introduced as an option in 2024.2.0 which is why it isn’t mentioned in earlier distributions. There are some issues with auto translations of nested lists from Python to JavaScript in Python 3.10 which is why both versions are distributed as options rather than making a switch.