[Python] VENV does not include pip in newly created environment

I found a number of questions related to my problem but solutions did not really help me. I work on Windows 10 and PowerShell 7, and have currently installed a few Python versions, s.a. 3.11, 3.12 and 3.13. Then, I use launcher py.exe to create virtual environments for different version, since many apps have not been updated to Python 3.13.

pip is not installed in new environments


I simply run the following command

py -m venv .venv


which creates a new environment in the current folder. The following activates .venv

.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1


A changed prompt to (.venv) PS D ...> demonstrates it's working. I can also confirm that local python version is correctly recognised

Get-Command python


The path is correct: <local path>\.venv\Scripts\python.exe.

Here's the problem. After activating new env, pip is still available as a standalone program but does not work on a local level. If I try to run

pip install numpy --dry-run


I get the report

Requirement already satisfied: numpy in <user>\appdata\local\programs\python\python313\lib\site-packages (2.3.3)


it clearly indicates pip is not working correctly. I get evidence of it if I run the command

Get-Command pip


because the path to pip is

<User>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313\Scripts\pip.exe


which is incorrect.

Impossible to install new modules


This leads to the problem of not being able to install new modules in newly created environments because pip is missing. For instance

python -m pip install pip --upgrade


issues the error: <local path>\.venv\Scripts\python.exe: No module named pip, while

Get-Command python


still demonstrates I am working on a local version of python in virtual environment

<local path>\.venv\Scripts\python.exe

ensurepip does not solve the problem


I tried to search for solutions and found out pip can be installed if I run the following command

python -m ensurepip


or

python -m ensurepip --upgrade


for some reason this results with the following output

Requirement already satisfied: pip in <local path>\.venv\lib\site-packages (25.2)


which would indicate pip was already installed. I run Get-Children -Recurse -Path ".venv/" to see all subdirectories and programs but pip was nowhere to find

Directory: <Local Path>\.venv

Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
d---- 16/09/2025 12:20 Include
d---- 16/09/2025 12:20 Lib
d---- 16/09/2025 12:20 Scripts
-a--- 16/09/2025 12:20 71 .gitignore
-a--- 16/09/2025 12:20 338 pyvenv.cfg

Directory: <Local Path>\.venv\Lib

Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
d---- 16/09/2025 12:20 site-packages

Directory: <Local Path>\.venv\Scripts

Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
-a--- 16/09/2025 12:20 2208 activate
-a--- 16/09/2025 12:20 1022 activate.bat
-a--- 16/09/2025 12:20 2281 activate.fish
-a--- 06/08/2025 16:16 9031 Activate.ps1
-a--- 06/08/2025 16:14 393 deactivate.bat
-a--- 06/08/2025 16:15 255320 python.exe
-a--- 06/08/2025 16:15 251736 pythonw.exe

Directory: <Local Path>\__pycache__

Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
-a--- 29/07/2024 16:12 15096 backup.cpython-312.pyc


Thanks for reaching the end. I hope someone can help me with that.

Cheers!

Continue reading...