How to beginner · 3 min read

How to install PyTorch

Quick answer
Install PyTorch by running the official command from pytorch.org tailored to your OS, Python version, and CUDA support. Use pip install torch torchvision torchaudio for CPU-only or add CUDA version tags for GPU support.

PREREQUISITES

  • Python 3.8+
  • pip or conda installed
  • Internet connection

Setup

Ensure you have Python 3.8 or higher installed. Use pip or conda as your package manager. Verify your Python version with python --version and pip with pip --version.

bash
python --version
pip --version
output
Python 3.10.12
pip 23.1.2 from /usr/local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/pip (python 3.10)

Step by step

Run the official PyTorch install command from pytorch.org. For CPU-only installation, use the following command:

bash
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio
output
Collecting torch
Collecting torchvision
Collecting torchaudio
Successfully installed torch-2.1.0 torchvision-0.16.0 torchaudio-2.1.0

Common variations

For GPU support, specify the CUDA version. For example, for CUDA 11.8, run:

bash
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu118
output
Collecting torch
Collecting torchvision
Collecting torchaudio
Successfully installed torch-2.1.0+cu118 torchvision-0.16.0+cu118 torchaudio-2.1.0

Troubleshooting

If you encounter permission errors, add --user to the pip command or use a virtual environment. For missing CUDA errors, verify your GPU drivers and CUDA toolkit installation.

bash
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio --user
output
Collecting torch
Collecting torchvision
Collecting torchaudio
Successfully installed torch torchvision torchaudio

Key Takeaways

  • Use the official PyTorch install command from pytorch.org tailored to your system.
  • Specify CUDA version in the pip command for GPU acceleration support.
  • Use virtual environments or --user flag to avoid permission issues during installation.
Verified 2026-04
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