How to override the pip command to Python3.x instead of Python2.7?

Question

I am using OSX and I have pip installed for both Python3.5 and Python2.7. I know I can run the command pip2 to use Python2 and when I use the command pip3

Answer 1

It works for me:

As super-user

Uninstall pip

sudo pip uninstall pip

Install pip

sudo python3 -m pip install --upgrade --force pip

Check install path

sudo pip -V

As local-user

Uninstall pip

pip uninstall pip

Install pip

python3 -m pip install --upgrade --force pip

Check install path

pip -V

Answer 2

Since you have specified in the comments you want syntax like pip install [package] to work, here is a solution:

1. Install setuptools for Python3: apt-get install python3-setuptools

2. Now pip for Python3 could be installed by: python3 -m easy_install pip

3. Now you can use pip with the specific version of Python to install package for Python 3 by: pip-3.2 install [package]

Answer 3

Can't you alias pip='pip3' in your ~/.bash_profile?

In Terminal, run nano ~/.bash_profile, then add a line to the end that reads alias pip='pip3'. This is safe; it won't affect system processes, only your terminal.

Answer 4

For your projects, you should be using a virtualenv.

You can choose which python will be that of the virtualenv at creation time, by specifying it on the command line:

virtualenv -p python3 env
# then
. env/bin/activate
python              # ← will run python3

That python interpreter will be the one used when you run python or pip while the virtualenv is active.

Under the hood, activating the virtualenv will:

• modify your PATH environment setting so binaries in env/bin override those from your system.
• modify your PYTHONHOME environment setting so python modules are loaded from env/lib.

So python, pip and any other package you install with pip will be run from the virtualenv, with the python version you chose and the package versions you installed in the virtualenv.

Other than this, running python without using virtualenv will just run the default python of the system, which you cannot usually change as it would break a lot of system scripts.

Answer 5

I always just run it via Python itself, this way:

python3 -m pip install some_module

or

python2 -m pip install some_module

The -m calls the __main__.py module of a specified package. Pip supports this.

Answer 6

Run this:

pip3 install --upgrade --force pip

or even more explicit:

python3 -m pip install --upgrade --force pip

This will install pip for Python 3 and make Python 3 version of pip default.

Validate with:

pip -V