Update python

Method 1: using deadsnakes ppa (Recommended)

On Ubuntu, the cleanest way is usually the deadsnakes PPA.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install software-properties-common

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
sudo apt update

sudo apt install python3.12 python3.12-venv python3.12-dev

Check version

python3.12 --version

You should see something like: Python 3.12.x

Update default python (Not Recommended)

Changing Ubuntu’s system python3 default is risky because apt, desktop tools, and OS scripts may expect the Ubuntu-provided Python. The safer system-wide-ish method is update-alternatives, which is reversible.

First check paths:

which python3.10
which python3.12

Then register both versions:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.10 10
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.12 20

Select Python 3.12:

  sudo update-alternatives --config python3

Verify:

  python3 --version

To switch back later:

  sudo update-alternatives --config python3

NOTE: if Ubuntu tools start failing, switch back to the distro default immediately. On many Ubuntu versions, changing /usr/bin/python3 is not recommended; aliases or virtual environments are safer.

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