Installed Python 3.9.1 onto MAC OS but still says Python version is 2.7

Question

I installed Python 3.9.1 onto my MacBook however when I use the command python --version it says its python 2.7. Here's what going on in my terminal for reference:

$ python -V
Python 2.7.16
$ brew install pyenv
Updating Homebrew...
==> Auto-updated Homebrew!
Updated Homebrew from 565becc90 to e41981a5c.
Updated 1 tap (homebrew/core).
==> New Formulae
htmltest                   mpdecimal                  vitess
==> Updated Formulae
Updated 158 formulae.

==> Homebrew was updated to version 2.7.7
The changelog can be found at:
  https://github.com/Homebrew/brew/releases/tag/2.7.7
Warning: pyenv 1.2.22 is already installed and up-to-date.
To reinstall 1.2.22, run:
  brew reinstall pyenv
$ pyenv install 3.9.1
python-build: use [email protected] from homebrew
python-build: use readline from homebrew
Downloading Python-3.9.1.tar.xz...
-> https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.9.1/Python-3.9.1.tar.xz
Installing Python-3.9.1...
python-build: use readline from homebrew
python-build: use zlib from xcode sdk
       
Installed Python-3.9.1 to /Users/myname/.pyenv/versions/3.9.1

$ 
$ python --version
Python 2.7.16

Thanks in advance for your help!

Try python3 or python3.9!

Klaus D.
– Klaus D.

2021-01-29 05:00:22 +00:00
Commented Jan 29, 2021 at 5:00 — Klaus D.
– Klaus D., Commented Jan 29, 2021 at 5:00

Ali · Accepted Answer · 2022-12-28 21:55:08Z

3

list all python under bin

ls -l /usr/local/bin/python*

something like this will be listed

lrwxr-xr-x  1 ali  admin  24 Dec 28 22:27 /usr/local/bin/python3 -> /usr/local/bin/python3.9
lrwxr-xr-x  1 ali  admin  39 Mar 31  2022 /usr/local/bin/python3 -> ../Cellar/[email protected]/3.9.12/bin/python3
lrwxr-xr-x  1 ali  admin  46 Mar 31  2022 /usr/local/bin/python3-config -> ../Cellar/[email protected]/3.9.12/bin/python3-config
lrwxr-xr-x  1 ali  admin  41 Mar 31  2022 /usr/local/bin/python3.9 -> ../Cellar/[email protected]/3.9.12/bin/python3.9
lrwxr-xr-x  1 ali  admin  48 Mar 31  2022 /usr/local/bin/python3.9-config -> ../Cellar/[email protected]/3.9.12/bin/python3.9-config

then change the symlink to the 3.9 or what's new one for you

ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python3.9 /usr/local/bin/python

Quit the terminal and start it again, it should work now, usually you have to change the symlink for pip too, cause it's under python3 directory.

edited Dec 28, 2022 at 21:55

answered Dec 28, 2022 at 21:44

Ali

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1 Comment

anoop4real Over a year ago

I installed using dmg, This works

Samuel Kurian · Accepted Answer · 2021-01-29 05:01:16Z

2

You have to add /usr/local/opt/python/libexec/bin to your PATH.

Checkout Make python3 as my default python on Mac

answered Jan 29, 2021 at 5:01

Samuel Kurian

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Comments

Vijayanandhan Vadivel · Accepted Answer · 2022-01-18 14:25:42Z

0

If you have install python they brew then edit your .zprofile

add this line export PATH=/usr/local/opt/brew/opt/[email protected]/libexec/bin:$PATH

answered Jan 18, 2022 at 14:25

Vijayanandhan Vadivel

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2 Comments

Winson Tanputraman Over a year ago

This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review

Hasan Wajahat Over a year ago

For me personally setting it in .zprofile does not work. As .zprofile is used in login sessions as explained here: serverfault.com/questions/901403/…. I ended up adding it in .zhrc but importantly place it before export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH" so that our version takes priority. Also you should use export PATH="/usr/local/opt/python/libexec/bin:$PATH" instead of the version one above.

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