Update Python Ubuntu May 2026

python3.12 -m venv myproject_env source myproject_env/bin/activate This gives you the new Python version without touching the OS. If you need a very recent version not in deadsnakes:

Would you like a step-by-step guide for a specific Ubuntu version (e.g., 20.04, 22.04, 24.04)? update python ubuntu

sudo apt install build-essential libssl-dev zlib1g-dev libbz2-dev libreadline-dev libsqlite3-dev libncursesw5-dev xz-utils tk-dev libxml2-dev libxmlsec1-dev libffi-dev liblzma-dev wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.13.0/Python-3.13.0.tgz tar -xf Python-3.13.0.tgz cd Python-3.13.0 ./configure --enable-optimizations --prefix=/usr/local make -j $(nproc) sudo make altinstall # Never use `install` (would override system python3) Use as python3.13 , not python3 . | Goal | Method | |------|--------| | Just need newer Python for development | deadsnakes PPA + virtual environments | | Need to update the global python3 for all users | Not recommended; use update-alternatives carefully | | Isolated project with specific Python version | Docker, pyenv , or virtual environments | | Building from source for latest features | make altinstall + explicit versioned binary | python3

Updating Python on Ubuntu is safe if you add new versions and leave the system Python untouched. The deadsnakes PPA is the best balance of convenience and safety. | Goal | Method | |------|--------| | Just