how to change the python version from default 3.5 to 3.8 of google colab

Question

I downloaded python version 3.8 on google colab using:

!apt-get install python3.8

Now I want to change the default python version used in google colab uses from 3.6 to 3.8. how to do it??

I have read few ans but there are no updates...

Answer 1

Colab has default python 3.7 and alternative 3.6 (on 26.07.2021)

# Choose one of the given alternatives:
!sudo update-alternatives --config python3

# This one used to work but now NOT(for me)!
# !sudo update-alternatives --config python

# Check the result
!python3 --version

# Attention: Install pip (... needed!)
!sudo apt install python3-pip

Answer 2

try these commands

!update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3.8 1

then

!update-alternatives --list python

this must display your downloaded python version

after that

!sudo update-alternatives --config python
## !Set python3.8 as default.

finally

!sudo update-alternatives --set python /usr/bin/python3.8

then check your default python version on colab

!python3 --version