https://stackoverflow.com/questions/33496350/execute-python-script-within-jupyter-notebook-using-a-specific-virtualenv Here's what worked for me (non conda python): (MacOS, brew version of python. if you are working with system python, you may (will) need prepend each command with sudo ) first activate virtualenv if starting afresh then, e.g., you could use virtualenvwrapper $pip install virtualenvwrapper $mkvirtualenv - p python2 py2env $workon py2env # This will activate virtualenv ( py2env ) $ # Then install jupyter within the active virtualenv ( py2env ) $ pip install jupyter # jupyter comes with ipykernel, but somehow you manage to get an error due to ipykernel, then for reference ipykernel package can be installed using: ( py2env ) $ pip install ipykernel Next, set up the kernel ( py2env ) $ python - m ipykernel install -- user -- name py2env -- display - name "Python2 (py2env)" then start jupyter notebook (the venv need not be activated f...