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!
Contents
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
or
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!
Kisha
But you installed version 3.10.4 but when you check the version in the terminal you still get older versions.
Why?
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.