Install a Different Python Version in Linux Ubuntu Server

Learn how to install a different version of Python on a Linux Ubuntu server. This guide covers simple steps to set up and use the version you need.

Prerequisites

1. Linux Ubuntu Server
2. SSH Access Enabled or Physical access to the server

Step-by-Step Guide to Install a Python Version

Most latest Linux Ubuntu Servers come with Python installed already. To check if python already installed, just run the below command.

python3 --version # or use python --version

You might get similar response like below – Tested on Linux Ubuntu Server 24.x.

Python 3.12.3

As a developer, you might want to install a different version of Python. For example, I want to install Python 3.10.14 for my old school projects. Below are the steps I will follow to install python 3.10.14 along with python 3.12.3. You would still be able to use both the versions.

1. Install prerequisites

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y software-properties-common build-essential libssl-dev zlib1g-dev \
libbz2-dev libreadline-dev libsqlite3-dev wget curl llvm libncursesw5-dev xz-utils tk-dev \
libxml2-dev libxmlsec1-dev libffi-dev liblzma-dev

2. Download and compile Python 3.10.x from source

cd /usr/src
sudo wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.10.14/Python-3.10.14.tgz
sudo tar xzf Python-3.10.14.tgz
cd Python-3.10.14
sudo ./configure --enable-optimizations
sudo make -j$(nproc)
sudo make altinstall

make altinstall ensures it doesn’t overwrite the default python3 (which points to 3.12).

3. Now verify:

python3.10 --version
# Should output: Python 3.10.14

python3 --version
# Still shows Python 3.12.3

4. Use Python 3.10 in virtual environments

This is the best way to isolate different versions per project:

python3.10 -m venv ~/my-python-3.10-env
source ~/my-python-3.10-env/bin/activate

Now you’re using Python 3.10 just for that project. Use deactivate to exit the env.

Thank you all!!! Hope you find this useful.