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How to Keep the Python Console Window Open After Script Execution

When you run a Python script from a graphical environment (like double-clicking a .py file), the console window often closes immediately after the script finishes. This can make it difficult to see the output.

This guide explains several ways to prevent the console window from closing, allowing you to examine the script's output. We'll cover methods suitable for development/debugging and briefly discuss alternatives for production scripts.

The simplest and most reliable way to keep the output visible is to run your script directly from a terminal or command prompt. This is the standard way to run Python scripts during development.

  • Windows: Open cmd.exe (Command Prompt) or PowerShell.
  • macOS/Linux: Open your Terminal application.

Then, navigate to the directory containing your script using the cd command, and run the script with python (or python3 or py depending on your setup):

cd /path/to/your/script  # Replace with the actual path
python your_script.py    # Or python3 your_script.py, or py your_script.py

The terminal window will remain open after the script finishes, allowing you to see the output. This is the best practice for development and debugging. You don't need to modify your script at all.

Using input() to Pause Execution​

A simple way to pause execution at the end of your script is to add an input() call:

site = 'tutorialreference.com'
print(site)

def greet(name):
    return f'Hello {name}'

print(greet('tom nolan'))

input("Press Enter to continue...")  # This line pauses execution
  • The input() function waits for the user to press Enter before continuing. This gives you time to see the output. The program will terminate only when the user presses Enter.
note

This approach is fine for development and testing, but it's not suitable for production scripts that should run unattended.

Using time.sleep() (For Timed Delays)​

If you want the window to stay open for a specific amount of time, use time.sleep():

import time

# ... your code ...

print("This script will close in 10 seconds...")
time.sleep(10)  # Pause for 10 seconds
  • This approach is more appropriate if the program needs to run by itself, without requiring any input, but still requires the window to stay opened for a specific amount of time.

Using try/except to pause on exceptions​

You can make the program stop if there is an exception by adding a try/except block.

def main():
    
    # Your code here ...

    print('tutorialreference.com')
    raise Exception('This will be caught!') # Example exception.


if __name__ == '__main__':
    try:
        # your code here
        main()
    except BaseException:
        import sys
        print(sys.exc_info()[0])
        import traceback
        print(traceback.format_exc())
    finally:
        print("Press Enter to continue...")
        input()
  • If an exception is thrown by your script, the interpreter will catch it, print it, and then wait for user input, keeping the window open.
  • This method is recommended if you expect that your code might throw exceptions.

atexit.register() (Less Common)​

import atexit

site = 'tutorialreference.com'
print(site)

def greet(name):
    return f'Hello {name}'

print(greet('tom nolan'))
atexit.register(input, 'Press Enter to continue...') # Register input
  • The atexit.register() method takes a function and runs it when the program is about to exit, allowing to use the input() function.

Windows-Specific: Drag and Drop, cmd /k​

On Windows, there are a couple of additional options:

  • Drag and Drop: Drag your .py file onto the cmd.exe window (or a shortcut to cmd.exe). This will run the script in that window, and the window will stay open.

  • cmd /k: Run your script with cmd /k:

    1. Press Win + R
    2. Type cmd /k
    3. Drag and drop the python script in the console, and press Enter.

    This tells cmd.exe to execute the command and then keep the window open.

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