- How to Update Python on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide for Enhanced Performance
- Checking the current version of Python on your Mac
- Updating Python on Mac using the terminal and command prompt
- How to Install Python Latest Version 3.10.6 on macOS Monterey
- Updating Python on Mac using the official website
- Installing a specific Python version using Pyenv
- Best practices for updating Python on Mac
- Other code examples for updating the version of Python on Mac
- Conclusion
- Methods to Update Python on Mac
- Update Python on Mac Using Homebrew
- Update Python Using Python Installer for macOS
- Related Article — Python Installation
- How to Update Python on Mac Terminal
- How to Update Python on Mac with Homebrew
- Step 1: Open Mac Terminal
- Step 2: Install Homebrew
- Step 3: Install the Latest Version of Python
- Step 4: Invoke the New Version with the python3 Command
- How to Update Python on Mac using Python Installer
- Step 1: Open your Browser from the Mac Desktop
- Step 2: Download the Installer from Python.org
- Step 3: Double-Click on the Python Install Package to Begin Installation
- Step 4: Follow the On-Screen Instructions
- Step 5: Open IDLE to Verify it was Installed Correctly
- How to Determine the Python Version on Your Mac
- Conclusion
- Leave a Reply Cancel Reply
How to Update Python on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide for Enhanced Performance
Learn how to update Python on your Mac and enhance its performance with our comprehensive guide. Follow our step-by-step instructions and best practices for a smooth update process.
- Checking the current version of Python on your Mac
- Updating Python on Mac using the terminal and command prompt
- How to Install Python Latest Version 3.10.6 on macOS Monterey
- Updating Python on Mac using the official website
- Installing a specific Python version using Pyenv
- Best practices for updating Python on Mac
- Other code examples for updating the version of Python on Mac
- Conclusion
- How do I update Python to latest version on Mac?
- How do I update Python on Mac 2022?
- How do I upgrade to Python 3.9 Mac?
- How to install Python 3.10 on Mac?
Python is a popular programming language that is widely used for web development, data analysis, machine learning, and more. If you’re a Mac user, you may find that the pre-installed version of Python is outdated, which can lead to compatibility issues and poor performance. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to update the version of Python on your Mac and provide helpful tips for working with Python.
Checking the current version of Python on your Mac
Before updating Python on your Mac, it’s important to check the current version to ensure that you’re not already running the latest version. You can easily check the current version by opening the terminal and typing the following command:
This will display the version number of the installed Python. If the version is outdated, you can proceed with updating Python.
Updating Python on Mac using the terminal and command prompt
One way to update Python on Mac is by using the terminal and command prompt. Follow these steps to update Python:
- Open the terminal and type the following command to update Homebrew, an open-source package manager software:
How to Install Python Latest Version 3.10.6 on macOS Monterey
Updating Python on Mac using the official website
Another way to update Python on Mac is by visiting the official website and downloading the latest version. Follow these steps to update Python:
- Go to the Python website and download the installer package for Mac.
- Double-click the downloaded file and follow the installation steps.
- After installation, open the terminal and type the following command to verify if the latest version is installed:
Installing a specific Python version using Pyenv
Pyenv is a tool that allows you to install and manage multiple versions of Python on your Mac. Follow these steps to install a specific Python version using Pyenv:
- Install Pyenv using Homebrew by typing the following command in the terminal:
Best practices for updating Python on Mac
- Modify your shell while installing a new Python version to avoid conflicts between different versions. You can do this by adding the following line to your shell configuration file (e.g. ~/.bash_profile ):
export PATH="/usr/local/opt/python/libexec/bin:$PATH"
Other code examples for updating the version of Python on Mac
In Python , for example, upgrade python version mc
brew install python3 brew update && brew upgrade python alias python=/usr/local/bin/python3
In Shell , for instance, how to update python on mac code sample
install the latest Python.$ brew install pythonList all Python versions installed on your system.$ ls -l /usr/local/bin/python*Change default Python version to the latest version.$ ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python[your-latest-version-just-installed] /usr/local/bin/pythonE.g:$ ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python3.9 /usr/local/bin/pythonRestart terminal. exec bash -l to restart without closing terminal window$ bash -lCheck Python version default again.$ python --version
In Python , for instance, update python mac code example
install the latest Python.$ brew install pythonList all Python versions installed on your system.$ ls -l /usr/local/bin/python*Change default Python version to the latest version.$ ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python[your-latest-version-just-installed] /usr/local/bin/pythonE.g:$ ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python3.9 /usr/local/bin/pythonRestart terminal. exec bash -l to restart without closing terminal window$ bash -lCheck Python version default again.$ python --version
In Python , in particular, mac why is python installed in usr and application code sample
$ pyenv global 3.7.3 # and verify it worked $ pyenv version 3.7.3 (set by /Users/mbbroberg/.pyenv/version)
Conclusion
updating python on mac is a simple process that can be done using the terminal and command prompt or by visiting the official website. Pyenv is a useful tool for installing and managing multiple versions of Python on your Mac. best practices for updating python on Mac include modifying your shell, setting Python 3 as the default version, using a virtual environment, and keeping Python updated. By following these steps, you can update Python on your Mac and enhance its features and performance.
Methods to Update Python on Mac
- Update Python on Mac Using Homebrew
- Update Python Using Python Installer for macOS
In this tutorial, we will discuss different methods to update Python on Mac. We will also discuss how to install the latest version of Python 3 or Python 2 on Mac.
Although the easiest way to update or install the latest version of Python on Mac is by using Python’s official website, we will have to check for future updates manually by checking the site again and again.
Therefore another way to update Python to the latest version is by using a single command. And we can easily update Python on macOS using Homebrew.
Update Python on Mac Using Homebrew
Homebrew is an open-source package manager software for macOS and Linux. It helps in installing and updating the software through the terminal. If Homebrew is not installed on your Mac, you can install it from here.
Once we have Homebrew, we can easily install Python on macOS using the following command on the terminal.
We can also update the Python 3 version from 3.x to 3.y using the following command on the terminal.
brew update && brew upgrade python
Once Python 3 is installed, we can set is as default to run the programs, using the following command.
cp /usr/local/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python
But the problem with the above method is that it will be a problem to run some legacy code using Python 2 in the future. Therefore, we can use an alias that will point to the Python version installed by Homebrew to run the Python scripts.
echo "alias python=/usr/local/bin/python3.7" >> ~/.bashrc
In case we have to use Python 2 to run a program, we can do so by indicating the default macOS Python binary path /usr/bin/python/ at the start of the code file, as shown below.
!#/usr/bin/python/ print("hello world!")
Using the following command, we can also install Python 2 on macOS.
Update Python Using Python Installer for macOS
Before updating or installing Python on Mac using the Python installer, the first step is to check the installed version of Python on Mac. We can check the versions of Python 2 and Python 3 installed on Mac using the following commands.
After checking the version, the next step is to check if any new version is available on the official website. We can download the installer and update or install the desired version using the Python installer.
We can confirm if the new version of Python is successfully installed or not by checking the Python version using the same above two commands.
Related Article — Python Installation
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How to Update Python on Mac Terminal
If you’re a frequent user or developer of Python scripts, you definitely know how powerful it is. You also know the importance of keeping your Mac updated with the latest version so that you can take advantage of everything it has to offer.
Most of us who use and create Python scripts spend a great deal of our time in Mac Terminal so it only makes sense that you would want to be able to update your version of Python from the Terminal application. It’s easy to do and I will show you how to do it here.
My name is Eric and I have been a Software Engineer and Configuration Manager for over 20 years. Deploying and installing new versions of software is a key function in my job and updating Python is fairly straightforward and something anyone can do.
Follow me through this article if you would like to learn how to update Python from Mac Terminal. We will also cover how to update it from your desktop. Once you learn, you can easily keep your version of Python up to date.
So keep reading to get started!
How to Update Python on Mac with Homebrew
The easiest way to update Python using Mac Terminal is with Homebrew. Follow the steps below to ensure you keep your version of Python up to date.
Step 1: Open Mac Terminal
You can open Mac Terminal either from your dock or Launchpad. By default, it is nested in the “Other” folder in Launchpad.
Step 2: Install Homebrew
If you already have Homebrew installed, you can skip to the next step. If you have never installed it on your Mac then you will need to install it. Run the command below to install Homebrew. Note: the command shown is all one line.
/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)”
You’ll be asked for your admin account password. This should be the password you use to log in to your Mac. Then you will see lots of output on the screen.
Keep an eye on the screen as you may need to hit Return/Enter to continue and possibly enter your password again. The entire installation will take a few minutes.
Step 3: Install the Latest Version of Python
In the Terminal application, type the command below to install the latest version of Python.
brew install Python
Once completed the latest version of Python will be installed.
Step 4: Invoke the New Version with the python3 Command
The latest version of Python is installed as python3. To use the new version you will want to use the command python3.
The old version of Python that came with your Mac will still be there and can be used with the original python command. There are ways to change this but I would recommend leaving it because there are instances where your macOS may need the original version.
How to Update Python on Mac using Python Installer
If you’re not comfortable installing Python from Mac Terminal using the commands shown above, you can install it from your desktop using the Python installer. The steps below will show you how to do this.
Step 1: Open your Browser from the Mac Desktop
Open your favorite internet browser before moving on to step 2.
Step 2: Download the Installer from Python.org
Once you get to Python.org, click on the Downloads menu. It will automatically detect your macOS and provide you with a button to download the latest version.
Step 3: Double-Click on the Python Install Package to Begin Installation
The installer will startup. Click on the continue button.
Step 4: Follow the On-Screen Instructions
After clicking “Continue,” you will need to follow the on-screen instructions. It will step you through the license agreement, and give you options as to where to install it and the type of installation. You can accept all the default options or change them if you would like to do so.
Step 5: Open IDLE to Verify it was Installed Correctly
Once the installation completes, open the IDLE applications to verify the version and that it works.
How to Determine the Python Version on Your Mac
If you want to see your current version of Python, you can do so by typing python or python3 with the –version parameter as shown below. Remember to run the version of Python that you are looking for (python or python3).
python –version
python3 –version
Once the command is run, you will see an output showing the current version.
Conclusion
Updating Python on your Mac is fairly simple and can be done by anyone. It can be done using Mac Terminal or through the desktop installation as we have seen above. Both methods work well so use the one you are most comfortable with.
As usual, let me know if you have any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you!
Leave a Reply Cancel Reply
Kisha
But you installed version 3.10.4 but when you check the version in the terminal you still get older versions.
Why? Reply
Eric
Hi Kisha,
Good catch noticing that. The version check is just a general command that I wanted to show how to do and in the case shown above, I had done the version check and taken the screenshot right after I installed Python from the command line in the earlier section. If I run the command now after I installed the desktop version, I can see that it has the same version. I tried putting a screenshot here but it won’t let me. I hope that makes sense. It’s just a matter of when I ran the command and took the screenshot. Thanks for the observation and question. I appreciate it. Reply