How to Open Jupyter Notebook From Terminal

So, you’ve heard about Jupyter Notebooks and how awesome they are for coding, data analysis, or just having fun with Python. But now you’re standing in front of your terminal like it’s a locked treasure chest. No worries! Opening Jupyter Notebook from the terminal is easier than pie (and way more fun!).

Contents

TLDR:

If you’ve already installed Jupyter Notebook, just open up your terminal and type jupyter notebook. Hit Enter. A browser window pops up with your brand new notebook interface. That’s it!

Step-by-Step Guide to Open Jupyter Notebook from Terminal

1. Check if Python is Installed

Before we even talk Jupyter, let’s check if Python is in the house.

python --version

or

python3 --version

If you see a number like Python 3.10.2, you’re good. If not, you need to install Python first. Google “install Python” for your OS and come back here once you’re done.

2. Install Jupyter (if you don’t have it yet)

Next, we get Jupyter into your system. We recommend using pip, Python’s package manager.

pip install notebook

If pip doesn’t work, you might try:

pip3 install notebook

Pro Tip:

Use a virtual environment to keep things tidy:


python -m venv myenv
source myenv/bin/activate     # for Mac/Linux
myenv\Scripts\activate.bat    # for Windows

pip install notebook

3. Open Terminal (Command Line)

All roads to Jupyter start here. Open your terminal.

  • Windows: Type “cmd” into the Start menu and hit enter.
  • Mac: Press Command + Space, search “Terminal”.
  • Linux: Look for Terminal in your apps menu.

Navigate to the folder where you want to store your notebooks. That way, they’re created in the right spot.

cd path/to/your/folder

Example:

cd Documents/CodeProjects

4. Launch Jupyter Notebook

Now the magic moment. Type this into the terminal:

jupyter notebook

Hit Enter and boom! Your browser should pop open with the Jupyter interface.

What You’ll See:

  • A list of files in your current directory
  • A “New” button to create new Notebooks
  • Your happy face in the reflection of the screen 😉

If your browser doesn’t open automatically, check the terminal. You’ll see a long URL like this:


http://localhost:8888/tree?token=abc123...

Copy it, paste it into your browser, and you’re in!

5. Create a New Notebook

Click on the New button at the top right, then select Python 3 (or whatever environment you’re using). A new tab will open with a fresh notebook, ready for your brilliant code.

Start typing and press Shift + Enter to run a line. Instantly satisfying.

6. Understanding the Server

When you run jupyter notebook, a special web server starts running. It’s still controlled through your terminal.

translate notebook

Don’t close the terminal while Jupyter is open! That server is what keeps your notebook alive.

If you’re done and want to shut down:

  • Go to the browser and hit “Quit” at the top right
  • Then press Ctrl + C in your terminal to stop the server

If you close the browser tab by accident, don’t worry. Just open a new one and paste that “localhost” URL again. Or run jupyter notebook again to get a new one.

7. Bonus: Using JupyterLab

If you’re feeling fancy, try JupyterLab. It’s like Jupyter Notebook 2.0.

pip install jupyterlab

Then launch it with:

jupyter lab

It has tabs, panels, and a slick modern interface. But if you’re just getting started, regular Notebook is perfect.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • “Command not found”? You might not have Jupyter installed. Go back and install with pip.
  • Python not found? Try using python3 instead of python.
  • Jupyter won’t open a browser? Copy and paste the URL from the terminal into your browser manually.
  • Need a different port? Run jupyter notebook –port=9999 to change defaults.
  • Using Anaconda? Just open Anaconda Navigator and click the “Launch” button on Jupyter Notebook.

Some Fun Tips & Tricks 🌟

  • Create Markdown cells to write notes—press Y to switch to code, M for Markdown.
  • AutoComplete with the Tab key—it’s magical for functions and objects.
  • Plot graphs directly using matplotlib or seaborn.
  • Shortcut list? Press H while in command mode to see them all!

Wait, What is Jupyter Anyway?

Okay, in case someone didn’t tell you—Jupyter is like a magical notebook where you can mix code, text, graphs, and more. It’s perfect for data science, analysis, machine learning, or just learning Python.

The name comes from Julia + Python + R. Cool, right?

Let’s Recap

  1. Make sure Python is installed
  2. Use pip install notebook to get Jupyter
  3. Open terminal and cd into your project folder
  4. Run jupyter notebook from the terminal
  5. Your browser opens up, and you’re in!
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You Did It!

Look at you, terminal wizard! Opening Jupyter from the terminal is one of those things that seems tricky—until you do it once. Now that browser-based Python world is at your fingertips.

What next? Try importing pandas. Plot a simple chart. Or just type print("Hello, world!") and hit Shift + Enter. So good.

Want to boost your code game? Bookmark this page and show off to your friends!

Have fun exploring Jupyter! 👩‍💻👨‍💻

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