diff --git a/main/commit-msg b/main/commit-msg
index 98190eb..ebdc690 100755
--- a/main/commit-msg
+++ b/main/commit-msg
@@ -1,23 +1,32 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 me=$(basename "$0")
 
+is_python3() {
+  "$@" -c 'import sys; sys.exit(0 if sys.version_info[0] == 3 else 1)' >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
 case "$OSTYPE" in
   msys*|mingw*|cygwin*|win32*)
     echo "Running ${me} on Windows"
-    if command -v python3 > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
-    elif command -v python > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
+    if command -v py >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 py -3; then
+      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(py -3)
     else
-      echo "Error: Python not found or not runnable"
-      exit 1
+      python3_path=$(command -v python3 2>/dev/null || true)
+      if [ -n "$python3_path" ] && [[ "$python3_path" != *WindowsApps* ]] && is_python3 python3; then
+        PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
+      elif command -v python >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python; then
+        PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
+      else
+        echo "Error: Python 3 not found. Please install Python 3 or disable the Microsoft Store python alias."
+        exit 1
+      fi
     fi
     ;;
   *)
     echo "Running ${me} on linux / mac / unix"
-    if command -v python3 > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python3; then
       PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
-    elif command -v python > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    elif command -v python >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python; then
       PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
     else
       echo "Error: Python not found or not runnable"
diff --git a/main/pre-commit b/main/pre-commit
index 98190eb..ebdc690 100755
--- a/main/pre-commit
+++ b/main/pre-commit
@@ -1,23 +1,32 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 me=$(basename "$0")
 
+is_python3() {
+  "$@" -c 'import sys; sys.exit(0 if sys.version_info[0] == 3 else 1)' >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
 case "$OSTYPE" in
   msys*|mingw*|cygwin*|win32*)
     echo "Running ${me} on Windows"
-    if command -v python3 > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
-    elif command -v python > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
+    if command -v py >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 py -3; then
+      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(py -3)
     else
-      echo "Error: Python not found or not runnable"
-      exit 1
+      python3_path=$(command -v python3 2>/dev/null || true)
+      if [ -n "$python3_path" ] && [[ "$python3_path" != *WindowsApps* ]] && is_python3 python3; then
+        PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
+      elif command -v python >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python; then
+        PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
+      else
+        echo "Error: Python 3 not found. Please install Python 3 or disable the Microsoft Store python alias."
+        exit 1
+      fi
     fi
     ;;
   *)
     echo "Running ${me} on linux / mac / unix"
-    if command -v python3 > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python3; then
       PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
-    elif command -v python > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    elif command -v python >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python; then
       PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
     else
       echo "Error: Python not found or not runnable"
diff --git a/main/pre-merge-commit b/main/pre-merge-commit
index 98190eb..ebdc690 100755
--- a/main/pre-merge-commit
+++ b/main/pre-merge-commit
@@ -1,23 +1,32 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 me=$(basename "$0")
 
+is_python3() {
+  "$@" -c 'import sys; sys.exit(0 if sys.version_info[0] == 3 else 1)' >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
 case "$OSTYPE" in
   msys*|mingw*|cygwin*|win32*)
     echo "Running ${me} on Windows"
-    if command -v python3 > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
-    elif command -v python > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
+    if command -v py >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 py -3; then
+      PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(py -3)
     else
-      echo "Error: Python not found or not runnable"
-      exit 1
+      python3_path=$(command -v python3 2>/dev/null || true)
+      if [ -n "$python3_path" ] && [[ "$python3_path" != *WindowsApps* ]] && is_python3 python3; then
+        PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
+      elif command -v python >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python; then
+        PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
+      else
+        echo "Error: Python 3 not found. Please install Python 3 or disable the Microsoft Store python alias."
+        exit 1
+      fi
     fi
     ;;
   *)
     echo "Running ${me} on linux / mac / unix"
-    if command -v python3 > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python3; then
       PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python3)
-    elif command -v python > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    elif command -v python >/dev/null 2>&1 && is_python3 python; then
       PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=(python)
     else
       echo "Error: Python not found or not runnable"