Install Python 3.9.1 on WSL
This article summarizes the steps to install Python 3.9.1 on Windows Subsystem for Linux Debian distro. You can also apply them to other similar distros.
Installation steps
Run the following commands in your WSL terminal.
1) Update package lists
sudo apt update
2) Install dependent libraries
sudo apt install build-essential zlib1g-dev libncurses5-dev libgdbm-dev libnss3-dev libssl-dev libsqlite3-dev libreadline-dev libffi-dev curl libbz2-dev
3) Download Python binary package
wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.9.1/Python-3.9.1.tgz
4) Unzip the package
tar -xzf Python-3.9.1.tgz
5) Execute configure script
cd Python-3.9.1
./configure --enable-optimizations
6) Build Python 3.9
make -j 2
7) Install Python 3.9
sudo make install
Verify the installation
Run the following command to install Python 3.9:
$ python3.9
Python 3.9.1 (default, Jan 8 2022, 14:44:10)
[GCC 6.3.0 20170516] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
Make Python 3.9 the default
If you want to make Python 3.9 the default python program, you can follow these steps:
1) Change ~/.bashrc file to add the following line:
alias python='/usr/local/bin/python3.9'
2) And then run the following command to make it effective:
source ~/.bashrc
You can verify it using python command directly:
python --version
Python 3.9.1
References
- How to Install Python 3.9 on Debian 10
- How to change from default to alternative Python version on Debian Linux
Hi, it is because the package is not available directly at the time when this article was published.
person Glenn access_time 2 years ago
Re: Install Python 3.9.1 on WSL
I don't understand why you would build python from source.
On WSL Debian bullseye:
glenn@RainbowDream:~$ sudo apt-get install python3 Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree... Done The following additional packages will be installed: ca-certificates libexpat1 libmpdec3 libpython3-stdlib libpython3.9-minimal libpython3.9-stdlib libsqlite3-0 media-types openssl python3-minimal python3.9 python3.9-minimal Suggested packages: python3-doc python3-tk python3-venv python3.9-venv python3.9-doc binutils binfmt-support The following NEW packages will be installed: ca-certificates libexpat1 libmpdec3 libpython3-stdlib libpython3.9-minimal libpython3.9-stdlib libsqlite3-0 media-types openssl python3 python3-minimal python3.9 python3.9-minimal 0 upgraded, 13 newly installed, 0 to remove and 7 not upgraded. Need to get 7,027 kB of archives. After this operation, 23.8 MB of additional disk space will be used. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
followed by the download and install and to prove the point:
glenn@RainbowDream:~$ python3 Python 3.9.2 (default, Feb 28 2021, 17:03:44) [GCC 10.2.1 20210110] on linux Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
I don't understand why you would build python from source.
On WSL Debian bullseye:
glenn@RainbowDream:~$ sudo apt-get install python3 Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree... Done The following additional packages will be installed: ca-certificates libexpat1 libmpdec3 libpython3-stdlib libpython3.9-minimal libpython3.9-stdlib libsqlite3-0 media-types openssl python3-minimal python3.9 python3.9-minimal Suggested packages: python3-doc python3-tk python3-venv python3.9-venv python3.9-doc binutils binfmt-support The following NEW packages will be installed: ca-certificates libexpat1 libmpdec3 libpython3-stdlib libpython3.9-minimal libpython3.9-stdlib libsqlite3-0 media-types openssl python3 python3-minimal python3.9 python3.9-minimal 0 upgraded, 13 newly installed, 0 to remove and 7 not upgraded. Need to get 7,027 kB of archives. After this operation, 23.8 MB of additional disk space will be used. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
followed by the download and install and to prove the point:
glenn@RainbowDream:~$ python3 Python 3.9.2 (default, Feb 28 2021, 17:03:44) [GCC 10.2.1 20210110] on linux Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
I'm glad that you find it helpful :)
person Alexander access_time 2 years ago
Re: Install Python 3.9.1 on WSL
Thank you! Super useful
Thank you! Super useful
You are welcome! If you have other related questions, feel free to post it here.
person Cathy access_time 2 years ago
Re: Install Python 3.9.1 on WSL
Thanks so much for getting back to me! I cant find the pip3 executable, but I have been able to install modules with:
python -m pip install [module_name]
Thanks so much for getting back to me! I cant find the pip3 executable, but I have been able to install modules with:
python -m pip install [module_name]
person Raymond access_time 2 years ago
Re: Install Python 3.9.1 on WSL
Hi Cathy,
From Python 3.4, pip is included as part of Python installation binary.
Can you try the following command?
pip3
OR
python -m pip
If you find the pip is not installed by default, try using the following command to install it:
python -m ensurepip --default-pip
Reference:
Hi Cathy,
From Python 3.4, pip is included as part of Python installation binary.
Can you try the following command?
pip3
OR
python -m pip
If you find the pip is not installed by default, try using the following command to install it:
python -m ensurepip --default-pip
Reference:
person Cathy access_time 2 years ago
Re: Install Python 3.9.1 on WSL
Where is pip? It does not seem to be installed
Where is pip? It does not seem to be installed
Ah, then this has nothing to do with WSL, then. It's "how to install a python version higher than that bundled with the distro". This would happen in regular Debian as well.
person Raymond access_time 2 years ago
Re: Install Python 3.9.1 on WSL
Hi, it is because the package is not available directly at the time when this article was published.