In this article, we will guide you to upgrade python 3.6 to python 3.7. Additionally, we will also show you to how you can switch between 3.6 and 3.7.

Step 1: Check the current version

Run the following command to verify the current version of python.

$ python3 --version

Output:

python 3.6.9

Step 2: Python 3.7 Installation

Run the following commands to install python 3.7

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$ sudo apt update -y
$ sudo apt install python3.7

Step 3: Add python 3.6 and 3.7 to update-alternatives

$ sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.6 1
$ sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.7 2

Step 4: Pointing to python 3.7

Run the following command to point to python 3.7 (or 3.6)

$ sudo update-alternatives --config python3

Output:

There are 2 choices for the alternative python3 (providing /usr/bin/python3).
Selection Path Priority Status
0 /usr/bin/python3.6 1 auto mode
1 /usr/bin/python3.6 1 manual mode
2 /usr/bin/python3.7 2 manual mode
Press to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:

Use “2” to point to python 3.7 and use”1″ to point to python 3.6. The selection might be little bit different on your system.

Under the hood, it uses sym-links to point to the selected version of python.

Step 4: Check the python version

$ python3 --version

Congrats! You are done!