Updating Python on Mac

Question

I wanted to update my python 2.6.1 to 3.x on mac but I was wondering if it's possible to do it using the terminal or I have to download the installer from python website?

I am asking this question because the installer is not updating my terminal python version.

Answer 1

Install or Update your current Python version to latest on Mac.

1. Install homebrew

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL 
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2. Next install pyenv - this is a Python version manager

brew install pyenv

3. Next, upgrade pyenv (if needed) to capture newer Python versions

brew upgrade pyenv

4. List the Python versions available. And pick your required version

pyenv install -l

Here's a more helpful version of the above. This lists only the release versions of the specified Python Version. That is, 3.13.*

pylist() {
  pyenv install -l | grep '^[ ]*'${1}'.*[0-9]$'
}

Place the above in your ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc (for zsh), or just paste it in a terminal window. Then use it like pylist <python version>

Example:

❯ pylist 3.13
  3.13.0

4. Install the version you need, like 3.13.0, or use :latest for the latest release version.

pyenv install 3.13:latest

5. If instead of using the Mac default Bash, you're using ZSH (or OhMyZSH) like I am, you'll want to edit the .zshrc file.

echo 'export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo -e 'if command -v pyenv 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then\n  eval "$(pyenv init --path)"\n  eval "$(pyenv init -)"\nfi' >> ~/.zshrc

6. You can set the latest version of Python to be global, meaning it will be the default version of Python MacOS uses when you run Python applications.

pyenv global 3.13.0

7. Now you can verify that this worked by checking the global version of python

pyenv versions

Output:
❯ pyenv versions
  system
* 3.13.0 (set by /Users/.../.pyenv/version)

8. Finally Restart your terminal and you can see the version you installed being used.

❯ python3 --version
Python 3.13.0

For more info refer

Answer 2

The command python3 points to a specific version of python installed. You will need to update the symbolic link of python3 to your desired version

1. ls -l /usr/local/bin/python* list all versions of python installed
2. sudo unlink /usr/local/bin/python3 to unlink the current version of python.
3. sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.10 /usr/local/bin/python3 to change the default python3 to Python 3.10.
4. You will still have python --version pointing to the legacy python because we did not update the symbolic link for it.

Answer 3

Install or Update your current Python version to latest or any custom version in MAC OS

1. Install homebrew

Installation

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2. Next install pyenv this is a python version manager

brew install pyenv

3. List the Python versions available. And pick your required version

pyenv install -l

4. Install the version you need.

pyenv install 3.12.2

5. If instead of using the Mac default Bash, you're using ZSH (or OhMyZSH) like I am, you'll want to edit the .zshrc file.

echo 'export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo -e 'if command -v pyenv 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then\n  eval "$(pyenv init --path)"\n  eval "$(pyenv init -)"\nfi' >> ~/.zshrc

6. You can set the latest version of Python to be global, meaning it will be the default version of Python MacOS uses when you run Python applications.

pyenv global 3.12.2

7. Now you can verify that this worked by checking the global version of python

pyenv versions

Output:
❯ pyenv versions
  system
* 3.12.2 (set by /Users/oliverpaul/.pyenv/version)

8. Finally Restart your terminal and you can see the version you installed being used.

❯ python3 --version
Python 3.12.2

For more info refer

Answer 4

An alternative way to deal with this. This approach allows not just upgrades but downgrades too.

Use asdf which allows you to have and switch between multiple versions of the same executable.

brew install asdf
asdf plugin add python
asdf install python 3.12.0 (or whichever version you need)
asdf global python 3.12.0
which python

I used this to use a specific version of python with my Pycharm. I recommend checking asdf docs.

Answer 5

For developers who stay away from Homebrew, you can install it via its installer to any location you want.

https://www.python.org/downloads/

Answer 6

Both python 2x and 3x can stay installed in a MAC. Mac comes with python 2x version. To check the default python version in your MAC, open the terminal and type-

python --version

However to check, if you have already installed any of python 3x versions, you need to type

python3 --version

If you don't then go ahead and install it with the installer. Go the the python's official site(https://www.python.org/downloads/), download the latest version

and install it.

Now restart the terminal and check again with both commands-

Answer 7

Install Home brew /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Install python 3 brew install python3 && cp /usr/local/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python

Update python to latest version ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python[your-latest-version-just-installed] /usr/local/bin/python

Answer 8

Install JDK latest Version

export $JAVA_HOME=/usr
export $PATH=${JAVA_HOME}/bin:$PATH

java --version

sudo apt install python3.9

python3 --version

Answer 9

1. brew install python --> install the latest Python.
2. ls -l /usr/local/bin/python* --> List all Python versions installed on your system.
3. ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python[your-latest-version-just-installed] /usr/local/bin/python --> Change default Python version to the latest version.

• E.g: ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python3.9 /usr/local/bin/python

4. Restart terminal.
5. python --version --> Check Python version default again.

Ref: https://dev.to/malwarebo/how-to-set-python3-as-a-default-python-version-on-mac-4jjf

Answer 10

Sometimes when you install Python from the install wizard on MAC it will not link to your bash profile. Since you are using homebrew, just to brew install python This would install the latest version of Python and then to link them brew link python@3.9

Answer 11

I recommend using pyenv to manage your local python versions (both 2.x and 3.x) instead of installing new versions directly with homebrew or building new python versions from source manually. Essentially, pyenv can do two key things for you:

• Install different python versions under some directory. Doing pyenv install 3.8.1 will install python 3.8.1 under ~/.pyenv/versions/3.8.1.
• Modify your shell environment (PATH) with shims so that when you do pyenv local 3.8.1, calling python will invoke the new interpreter instead of your system python.

MacOSX Specific Installation

The pyenv repo is pretty detailed on how to install for different systems and what it's actually doing, but here's the basic steps for mac:

1. Install homebrew if you don't already have it and use it to install pyenv with brew install pyenv
2. Once you have pyenv installed, update your .bash_profile file to include:

if command -v pyenv 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then
    eval "$(pyenv init -)"
fi

Now install some python using pyenv and then switch to it with the pyenv local command (you can see all your versions with pyenv versions).

pyenv install 3.8.1 && pyenv local 3.8.1

Note: you may need to create a new shell or reload your bash_profile in your current shell for the pyenv initialization to do its thing (set up shims).

With this setup, you'll be able to keep your system macosx python and switch to whatever new version of python you want available through pyenv.

Answer 12

Easiest way is

 brew update && brew upgrade python

Answer 13

If it were me, I would just leave it as it is. Use python3 and pip3 to run your files since python and python3 can coexist.

brew install python3 && cp /usr/local/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python

You can use the above line but it might have unintended consequences.

Answer 14

On a mac use the following in the terminal to update python if you have anaconda:

conda update python

Answer 15

Its always best to use homebrew to update or install python. In terminal type:

/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)

This will install homebrew (it takes sometime depending on your internet speed)

Then, in terminal, type

brew update

This will first update brew (you don't have to do that if you already have the latest version)

then type

brew upgrade python

This brew will update python to the latest viable version.

That should do it.

Answer 16

This article helped me to make the right choices eventually since mac 10.14.6 by default came with python 2.7* and I had to upgrade to 3.7.*

brew install python3
brew update && brew upgrade python
alias python=/usr/local/bin/python3

Referred The right and wrong way to set Python 3 as default on a Mac article

Answer 17

You can also use:

brew upgrade python3

Answer 18

Instal aws cli via homebrew package manager. It is the simplest and easiest method.

1. If you dont have homebrew installed , enter this command in your terminal

/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

2. Next 'brew install awscli'

This will install aws cli on your mac

Answer 19

I was having the same problem, but then after a bit of research I tried

brew install python3 && cp /usr/local/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python

in terminal

A warning message will pop-up saying that python 3.7.0. is already installed but it's not linked so type the command brew link python and hit enter and hope things work right for you

Answer 20

First, install Homebrew (The missing package manager for macOS) if you haven': Type this in your terminal

/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

Now you can update your Python to python 3 by this command
brew install python3 && cp /usr/local/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python

Python 2 and python 3 can coexist so to open python 3, type python3 instead of python

That's the easiest and the best way.

Answer 21

using Homebrew just do:

brew install python3 && cp /usr/local/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python

done :)

Answer 22

Python 2.7 and 3 can co-exist.
Python version shows on terminal is 2.7, but you can invoke it using "python3", see this:

PeiwenMAC:git Peiwen$ python --version
Python 2.7.2
PeiwenMAC:git Peiwen$ python3
Python 3.4.1 (v3.4.1:c0e311e010fc, May 18 2014, 00:54:21) 
[GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5666) (dot 3)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

Answer 23

Echoing above on not messing with OS X install. Have been faced with a couple of reinstalls thinking I could beat the system. The 3.1 install Scott Griffiths offers above works fine with Yosemite, for any Beta testers out there.. Yosemite has Python 2.7.6 as part of OS install, and typing "python3.1" from terminal launches Python 3.1. Same for Python 3.4 (install here).

Answer 24

I wanted to achieve the same today. The Mac with Snow Leopard comes with Python 2.6.1 version.

Since multiple Python versions can coexist, I downloaded Python 3.2.3 from: http://www.python.org/getit/

After installation the newer Python will be available under the Application folder and the IDE there uses 3.2.3 version of Python.

From the shell, python3 works with the newer version. That serves the purpose :)

Answer 25

I personally wouldn't mess around with OSX's python like they said. My personally preference for stuff like this is just using MacPorts and installing the versions I want via command line. MacPorts puts everything into a separate direction (under /opt I believe), so it doesn't override or directly interfere with the regular system. It has all the usually features of any package management utilities if you are familiar with Linux distros.

I would also suggest installing python_select via MacPorts and using that to select which python you want "active" (it will change the symlinks to point to the version you want). So at any time you can switch back to the Apple maintained version of python that came with OSX or you can switch to any of the ones installed via MacPorts.

Answer 26

The default Python on OS X shouldn't be messed with as it's used by the OS itself. If your default is 2.6.1 then you must have Snow Leopard.

If you just install from the standard 3.1 disk image then you can invoke it using python3.1 from the terminal (you don't have to do any extra steps for this to work) and you can leave the plain python as 2.6.1.

Answer 27

I believe Python 3 can coexist with Python 2. Try invoking it using "python3" or "python3.1". If it fails, you might need to uninstall 2.6 before installing 3.1.