Set Python 3 as default on Mac (2024)

The default Python version that ships with (older) Mac OS software ishilariously old. Because I am still developing on a mid-2014 MBP Retina (SUE ME!) I was still rocking this bad boy. But at some point I was cracking my head on Python environments and well, I just had to fix it. So here goes!

There is a right way and wrong way to set Python 3 as the default on yourMac. I’ll show you the right way. In general you never ever want to f*ckwith your system version of Python. This is very dangerous and can mess upmany things.

To manage our global python version we will use pyenv and then make our shell always use pyenv. I will merely set the global default to Python 3.9.0 but you could also manage more version at the same time.

1. Install pyenv

Install pyenv.

$ brew install pyenv==> Upgrading 1 outdated package:pyenv 1.2.10 -> 1.2.21...

Validate whether you installed pyenv correctly.

$ pyenv -vpyenv 1.2.21

2. Install Python

Install the desired Python version. In my case this is version 3.9.0.

$ pyenv install 3.9.0python-build: use openssl 1.0 from homebrewpython-build: use readline from homebrew

This. Will. Take. A. While. Go grab a cup of coffee or something.

3. Set as default

Set your installed version as the default.

$ pyenv global 3.9.0

Validate whether it worked.

$ pyenv version3.9.0 (set by /Users/janmeppe/.pyenv/version)

4. Make your shell runs pyenv

Add this to your .bash_profile or .zshrc.

if command -v pyenv 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then eval "$(pyenv init -)"fi

Success

Great job! That’s it.

If you now run python you’ll see that it runs 3.9.0 instead of 2.7.x.

$ pythonPython 3.9.0 (default, Jan 20 2021, 16:49:23)[Clang 10.0.1 (clang-1001.0.46.4)] on darwinType "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.>>>

Resources

• This tutorial on www.opensource.com