How to add python3 kernel to jupyter IPython notebook ?

This tutorial guides you on how to add python3 kernel to jupyter IPython notebook. The IPython kernel is the backend server that enables Python programmers to run cells within jupyter notebook.

Add python3 kernel to jupyter IPython notebook

The Jupyter notebook automatically ensures that the IPython kernel is available. However due to some issues if the required version of IPython kernel is not installed, you will need to install it manually.

Let’s say if you want to install IPython kernel for Python3, then follow the below steps.

Check the version of pip installed. If you are running Jupyter Notebook on Python2, you can setup a Python 3 kernel after checking your pip version. Install/upgrade latest version of pip

> python3 -m pip --version

pip 20.1.1 from C:\Users990\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python38-32\lib\site-packages\pip

After that install IPython kernel for Python 3 using following commands

python3 -m pip install ipykernel
python3 -m ipykernel install --user

Otherwise, is you are using conda, you can create Python3 environment for jupyter notebook in the following way.

conda create -n ipykernel_py3 python=3 ipykernel
source activate ipykernel_py3    # On Windows, remove the word 'source'
python -m ipykernel install --user

That’s it Python3 environment is added for jupyter notebook. To verify this you can stop and start the notebook server again.

> python -m notebook

[I 16:06:50.808 NotebookApp] The port 8888 is already in use, trying another port.
[I 16:06:50.809 NotebookApp] The port 8889 is already in use, trying another port.
[W 16:06:50.825 NotebookApp] Terminals not available (error was No module named 'winpty.cywinpty')
[I 16:06:50.826 NotebookApp] Serving notebooks from local directory: C:\Users990\Documents\sneppets\Workspaces\Python\Examples
[I 16:06:50.827 NotebookApp] Jupyter Notebook 6.3.0 is running at:
[I 16:06:50.827 NotebookApp] http://localhost:8890/?token=522f83d595e7df2cf386828838bcb2d93257362a3347ab08
[I 16:06:50.827 NotebookApp]  or http://127.0.0.1:8890/?token=522f83d595e7df2cf386828838bcb2d93257362a3347ab08
[I 16:06:50.827 NotebookApp] Use Control-C to stop this server and shut down all kernels (twice to skip confirmation).
[C 16:06:50.980 NotebookApp]

    To access the notebook, open this file in a browser:
        file:///C:/Users/91990/AppData/Roaming/jupyter/runtime/nbserver-22496-open.html
    Or copy and paste one of these URLs:
        http://localhost:8890/?token=522f83d595e7df2cf386828838bcb2d93257362a3347ab08
     or http://127.0.0.1:8890/?token=522f83d595e7df2cf386828838bcb2d93257362a3347ab08
[W 16:07:01.605 NotebookApp] Notebook MyFirstNotebook.ipynb is not trusted
[I 16:07:02.313 NotebookApp] Kernel started: 72986b0a-16ee-427f-8c76-1639377c0e36, name: python3

You could see the message “Kernel started…, name: python3“. Also, you could check the notebook interface opened in the new browser window as shown below.

Add Python 2 kernel to jupyter

Similarly, If you’re running Jupyter on Python 3, and you would like to set up a Python 2 kernel, then follow the below steps.

First, check your version of pip is greater than 9.0:

python2 -m pip --version

Then install IPython kernel for Python 2 using following commands

python2 -m pip install ipykernel
python2 -m ipykernel install --user

Or using conda, you can create a Python 2 environment.

conda create -n ipykernel_py2 python=2 ipykernel
source activate ipykernel_py2    # On Windows, remove the word 'source'
python -m ipykernel install --user

Note