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I just downloaded Python 3.6.1, but when I type python3 -V in the terminal it's still Python 3.5.3. How can I make python3 point to Python 3.6? All versions are in the /usr/bin/ directory.

Willem Van Onsem
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ian-campbell
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6 Answers6

96

do

rm /usr/bin/python3
ln -s /usr/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3

much better solution:

Damn, Python is used throughout much of Ubuntu for system scripts and software, and software relies on having Python (and the commands to start Python) in a certain spot. do back then. 

rm /usr/bin/python3 
ln -s /usr/bin/python3.5 /usr/bin/python3

create alias in ~/.bash_aliases 

alias python3='/usr/bin/python3.6'

Scripts can then start with something like: 

#!/usr/bin/env python3
tso
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    `ln: failed to create symbolic link '/usr/bin/python3.6': File exists` – ian-campbell May 02 '17 at 17:14
  • You need to swap the arguments for `ln` to work: `ln -s /usr/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3` – Laurent S May 02 '17 at 17:18
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    sorry :/ ln -s /usr/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3 – tso May 02 '17 at 17:18
  • Correct, it worked with `ln -s /usr/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3` – ian-campbell May 02 '17 at 17:18
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    This solution actually broke my Ubuntu terminal. Something in the background is/was depending on `python3` pointing at `Python 3.5.3` and not `Python 3.6.1`. Not sure what, though. – ian-campbell May 02 '17 at 21:38
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    Damn, Python is used throughout much of Ubuntu for system scripts and software, and software relies on having Python (and the commands to start Python) in a certain spot. do back then.
    `rm /usr/bin/python3` `ln -s /usr/bin/python3.5 /usr/bin/python3` create alias in ~/.bash_aliases `alias python3='/usr/bin/python3.6'` Scripts can then start with something like: `#!/usr/bin/env python3`     – tso May 03 '17 at 06:00
9

Worked Perfectly...

ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.5 /usr/bin/python3
Deepak Sharma
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6

You could update the default python version system-wide using update-alternatives command.

$ sudo update-alternatives  --set python3 /usr/bin/python3.6

or you can also run the following command to choose among the various python versions installed on a host.

$ sudo update-alternatives --config python
Tushar Gautam
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3

If you are looking for other than the accepted answer. Here is the solution that saved my life. This is to replace it with new version.


$ python3 --version
  Python 3.5.2

$ ls -lh /usr/bin/python3
  lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Mar 23  2016 /usr/bin/python3 -> python3.5

$ sudo mv /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/_python3
$ sudo cp /usr/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3

$ python3 --version
  Python 3.6.11
Masood
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2

first step

ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3

second step

vim .bashrc

alias python3='/usr/bin/python3.6'
Sajibe Kanti
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-1

  • Method 1:

    pip install virtualenv
virtualenv name_of_project

  • Method 2

    py -3 -m venv name_of_project
Vivek p.s
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