How to make python3 command run Python 3.6 instead of 3.5?

Question

I just downloaded Python 3.6.1, but when I type python3 -V in the terminal it\'s still Python 3.5.3. How can I make python3 point to

Answer 1

do

rm /usr/bin/python3
ln -s /usr/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3

much better solution:

Damn, Python is used throughout much of Ubuntu for system scripts and software, and software relies on having Python (and the commands to start Python) in a certain spot. do back then.

rm /usr/bin/python3 
ln -s /usr/bin/python3.5 /usr/bin/python3 

create alias in ~/.bash_aliases

alias python3='/usr/bin/python3.6' 

Scripts can then start with something like:

#!/usr/bin/env python3 

Answer 2

Worked Perfectly...

ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.5 /usr/bin/python3

Answer 3

You could update the default python version system-wide using update-alternatives command.

$ sudo update-alternatives  --set python3 /usr/bin/python3.6

or you can also run the following command to choose among the various python versions installed on a host.

$ sudo update-alternatives --config python

Answer 4

If you are looking for other than the accepted answer. Here is the solution that saved my life. This is to replace it with new version.

$ python3 --version
  Python 3.5.2

$ ls -lh /usr/bin/python3
  lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Mar 23  2016 /usr/bin/python3 -> python3.5

$ sudo mv /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/_python3
$ sudo cp /usr/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3

$ python3 --version
  Python 3.6.11