Error when opening Jupyter notebook from cmd/power shell (Windows)

Question

[Problem solved] When I try to open jupyter notebook in cmd/power shell I get the following error:

Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"c:\users\NAME\appdata\local\programs\python\python39\python.exe" "C:\Users\NAME\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\Scripts\jupyter.exe" notebook': The system cannot find the file specified.

I use the command “jupyter notebook“ and also “py -m jupyter notebook”. After searching about it and reading posts of other people with similar problems to mine, I tried reinstalling jupyter and then python but the problem persists.

I install jupyter with this command: “py -m pip install jupyter”

Also I HAVE python added to PATH and the command was successful in installing libraries such as pandas and matplotlib.

I have also tried to repair python using python installer, both before and after reinstallation. Before the reinstallation it gave an error midway that I unfortunately didn’t copy but it was about not having access to a file called python.llb/ldb or something like that. (I am sorry but I really didn’t pay much attention at the time since I intended to uninstall it) After I installed python again, the repair was successful. But I still get the same error when I try to open Jupiter.

My python version is 3.13 (64 bit) by the way and system is windows 10.

Please clarify your specific problem or provide additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it's hard to tell exactly what you're asking. — Community
– Community Bot, Commented Sep 1 at 16:19
Also, please don't cross-post, like you you did here without linking the cross-posts so those trying to help you can see what others have already said. Plus, it makes it so people with your issue later can track down a good solution if one is offered in once place but not the other(s). One way to think about this is to imagine you may have this same issue a year from now and recall your had a useful answer. If you didn't link them, you'll have a hard time tracking down the exact site you recall. — Wayne
– Wayne, Commented Sep 2 at 2:34

Mag_Amine · Accepted Answer · 2025-09-01 15:18:55Z

3

Your Jupyter launcher script is still pointing to an old Python installation that no longer exists\python39\.

Deleting everything in C:\Users\NAME\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python39 (if not needed) and then reinstall Jupyter in your current Python 3.13:

py -m pip install --upgrade pip
py -m pip install --upgrade jupyter

You should find the correct files afterwards in:
C:\Users\NAME\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313\Scripts\

Also verify your PATH is pointing to the right files.

answered Sep 1 at 15:18

Mag_Amine

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1 Comment

SleepingUgly Sep 1 at 18:24

Thx, it worked.

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