Install Python on Linux

Python tutorial · PySpark.in

Install Python on Linux (Ubuntu / Debian / CentOS) — Step by Step

Python comes preinstalled on many Linux distributions, but often with an older version like Python 2.7 or Python 3.6.
To run modern programs, you should install the latest Python 3 version.

This step-by-step guide works for:

Ubuntu
Debian
Linux Mint
CentOS
RHEL
Fedora
Amazon Linux

Step 1: Check if Python is already installed

Open Terminal and run:

python3 --version

If you see something like:

Python 3.10.12

Python is already installed.

If it says command not found, proceed to installation.

Ubuntu / Debian / Linux Mint Installation

Step 2: Update your system

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 3: Install Python 3

sudo apt install python3 -y

Step 4: Install pip (Python package manager)

sudo apt install python3-pip -y

Step 5: Verify installation

python3 --version

pip3 --version

You should see version information.

CentOS / RHEL Installation

Step 2: Enable EPEL repository (required)

sudo yum install epel-release -y

Step 3: Install Python 3

sudo yum install python3 -y

Step 4: Verify

python3 --version
pip3 --version

Fedora Installation

Fedora includes Python 3 by default. But you can install latest:

sudo dnf install python3 -y

Verify:

python3 --version

Amazon Linux / AWS EC2 Installation

For Amazon Linux 2023:

sudo dnf install python3.11 -y

For Amazon Linux 2:

sudo yum install python3 -y

Verify:

python3 --version

Step 6: Set Python 3 as the default (Optional)

Many Linux systems still use python → Python 2.

To set python → python3:

sudo ln -sf /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/python

Now check:

python --version

Step 7: Run your first Python script

Create a file:

nano hello.py

Add:

print("Hello from Linux!")

Save → CTRL + O, then press Enter
Exit → CTRL + X

Run the script:

python3 hello.py

Output:

Hello from Linux!

Step 8: Install useful Python packages

pip3 install numpy pandas matplotlib

Note:

Step	Command
Update system	sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Install Python	sudo apt install python3 -y
Install pip	sudo apt install python3-pip -y
Check version	python3 --version
Run script	python3 hello.py

Install Python on Linux