diff --git a/src/Ext/freecad/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Ext/freecad/CMakeLists.txt
index 5a8246f67e..2fea55b9ac 100644
--- a/src/Ext/freecad/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Ext/freecad/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ endif()
 configure_file(__init__.py.template ${NAMESPACE_INIT})
 configure_file(project_utility.py ${NAMESPACE_DIR}/project_utility.py)
 configure_file(UiTools.py ${NAMESPACE_DIR}/UiTools.py)
+configure_file(utils.py ${NAMESPACE_DIR}/utils.py)
 
 if (INSTALL_TO_SITEPACKAGES)
     SET(SITE_PACKAGE_DIR ${PYTHON_MAIN_DIR}/freecad)
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ INSTALL(
         ${NAMESPACE_INIT}
         project_utility.py
         UiTools.py
+        utils.py
     DESTINATION
         ${SITE_PACKAGE_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/src/Ext/freecad/utils.py b/src/Ext/freecad/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..01bb923e50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Ext/freecad/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+# ***************************************************************************
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   Copyright (c) 2022-2023 FreeCAD Project Association                   *
+# *   Copyright (c) 2018 Gaël Écorchard <galou_breizh@yahoo.fr>             *
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   This file is part of FreeCAD.                                         *
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   FreeCAD is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it    *
+# *   under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as           *
+# *   published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2.1 of the  *
+# *   License, or (at your option) any later version.                       *
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   FreeCAD is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but        *
+# *   WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of            *
+# *   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU      *
+# *   Lesser General Public License for more details.                       *
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public      *
+# *   License along with FreeCAD. If not, see                               *
+# *   <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.                                      *
+# *                                                                         *
+# ***************************************************************************
+
+import os
+import platform
+import shutil
+
+import FreeCAD
+
+
+def get_python_exe() -> str:
+    """Find Python. In preference order
+    A) The value of the PythonExecutableForPip user preference
+    B) The executable located in the same bin directory as FreeCAD and called "python3"
+    C) The executable located in the same bin directory as FreeCAD and called "python"
+    D) The result of a shutil search for your system's "python3" executable
+    E) The result of a shutil search for your system's "python" executable"""
+    prefs = FreeCAD.ParamGet("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/PythonConsole")
+    python_exe = prefs.GetString("ExternalPythonExecutable", "Not set")
+    fc_dir = FreeCAD.getHomePath()
+    if not python_exe or python_exe == "Not set" or not os.path.exists(python_exe):
+        python_exe = os.path.join(fc_dir, "bin", "python3")
+        if "Windows" in platform.system():
+            python_exe += ".exe"
+
+    if not python_exe or not os.path.exists(python_exe):
+        python_exe = os.path.join(fc_dir, "bin", "python")
+        if "Windows" in platform.system():
+            python_exe += ".exe"
+
+    if not python_exe or not os.path.exists(python_exe):
+        python_exe = shutil.which("python3")
+
+    if not python_exe or not os.path.exists(python_exe):
+        python_exe = shutil.which("python")
+
+    if not python_exe or not os.path.exists(python_exe):
+        return ""
+
+    python_exe = python_exe.replace("/", os.path.sep)
+    prefs.SetString("ExternalPythonExecutable", python_exe)
+    return python_exe
diff --git a/src/Gui/PreferencePages/DlgSettingsPythonConsole.cpp b/src/Gui/PreferencePages/DlgSettingsPythonConsole.cpp
index 0734266741..87ca89034f 100644
--- a/src/Gui/PreferencePages/DlgSettingsPythonConsole.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/PreferencePages/DlgSettingsPythonConsole.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ void DlgSettingsPythonConsole::saveSettings()
     ui->PythonBlockCursor->onSave();
     ui->PythonSaveHistory->onSave();
     ui->ProfilerInterval->onSave();
+    ui->ExternalPythonExecutable->onSave();
 }
 
 void DlgSettingsPythonConsole::loadSettings()
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ void DlgSettingsPythonConsole::loadSettings()
     ui->PythonBlockCursor->onRestore();
     ui->PythonSaveHistory->onRestore();
     ui->ProfilerInterval->onRestore();
+    ui->ExternalPythonExecutable->onRestore();
 }
 
 void DlgSettingsPythonConsole::changeEvent(QEvent* event)
diff --git a/src/Gui/PreferencePages/DlgSettingsPythonConsole.ui b/src/Gui/PreferencePages/DlgSettingsPythonConsole.ui
index b7f2ac20b6..0c5292d921 100644
--- a/src/Gui/PreferencePages/DlgSettingsPythonConsole.ui
+++ b/src/Gui/PreferencePages/DlgSettingsPythonConsole.ui
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
-   <string>Python console</string>
+   <string>General</string>
   </property>
   <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_2">
    <item row="0" column="0">
     <widget class="QGroupBox" name="GroupBox11">
      <property name="title">
-      <string>Settings</string>
+      <string>Console</string>
      </property>
      <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout">
       <item row="0" column="0">
@@ -111,6 +111,47 @@ horizontal space in Python console</string>
     </widget>
    </item>
    <item row="1" column="0">
+   <widget class="QGroupBox" name="GroupBox11">
+     <property name="title">
+      <string>Other</string>
+     </property>
+    <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout">
+     <item row="0" column="0">
+      <widget class="QLabel" name="fclabel">
+       <property name="text">
+        <string>Path to external Python executable (optional):</string>
+       </property>
+      </widget>
+     </item>
+     <item row="0" column="1">
+      <widget class="Gui::PrefFileChooser" name="ExternalPythonExecutable" native="true">
+       <property name="sizePolicy">
+        <sizepolicy hsizetype="Expanding" vsizetype="Preferred">
+         <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+         <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+        </sizepolicy>
+       </property>
+       <property name="minimumSize">
+        <size>
+         <width>300</width>
+         <height>0</height>
+        </size>
+       </property>
+       <property name="toolTip">
+        <string>Used for package installation with pip and debugging with debugpy. Autodetected if needed and not specified.</string>
+       </property>
+       <property name="prefEntry" stdset="0">
+        <cstring>ExternalPythonExecutable</cstring>
+       </property>
+       <property name="prefPath" stdset="0">
+        <cstring>PythonConsole</cstring>
+       </property>
+      </widget>
+     </item>
+    </layout>
+    </widget>
+   </item>
+      <item row="2" column="0">
     <spacer name="verticalSpacer">
      <property name="orientation">
       <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
@@ -135,6 +176,11 @@ horizontal space in Python console</string>
    <class>Gui::PrefSpinBox</class>
    <extends>QSpinBox</extends>
    <header>Gui/PrefWidgets.h</header>
+  </customwidget>
+    <customwidget>
+   <class>Gui::PrefFileChooser</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>Gui/PrefWidgets.h</header>
   </customwidget>
  </customwidgets>
  <resources/>