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Asked: 2024-09-26T00:48:47+05:30 In:

How can I find out which version of Python is installed on my Mac?

I’ve been diving into some Python projects lately, and I realized I’m not even sure what version of Python I have on my Mac! I know there are different versions out there, and some libraries I’m interested in using might require a specific one, so it’s kind of a big deal for me right now.

Here’s the thing: I’ve done a bit of digging, and I keep seeing people mention using the Terminal to check it out, but I never really use the Terminal for anything beyond opening and closing files. The idea of typing commands into it kind of intimidates me! I mean, what if I accidentally mess something up? Do I really need to get into all that just to find out my Python version?

But I also don’t want to be one of those people who doesn’t even know if they’re using Python 2 or Python 3… I’ve heard horror stories about compatibility issues because of version differences. So, if I did decide to go the Terminal route, what exactly should I type? Is it just something simple like `python –version`, or is there more to it? What about if I have both Python 2 and Python 3 installed? How do I find out which one is set as the default?

And, just to add to the confusion, I’ve read some stuff online suggesting that you can get the version information from the Python interpreter itself if you just start it up. Is that true? If so, how do I do that? I might be completely overthinking this, but I’ve been stuck on this question for a while, and I really want to make sure I’m starting my projects with the right version of Python.

So, if you’ve ever been in the same boat or have some straightforward advice or steps to offer, I’d love to hear from you. Any help would be appreciated!

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    2 Answers


    1. To check the version of Python installed on your Mac, you can indeed use the Terminal, and it’s simpler than it might seem! Open the Terminal application, which you can find by searching for “Terminal” in Spotlight (the magnifying glass icon on the top right of your screen) or in the Applications > Utilities folder. Once the Terminal window is open, you can type the command python --version or python3 --version depending on which version you want to check. If you have both Python 2 and Python 3 installed, by default, typing python may refer to Python 2, while python3 will refer to Python 3. This distinction is important as many modern libraries and frameworks are developed for Python 3, so you might want to ensure you are using that unless you have a specific reason to stick with Python 2.

      Alternatively, if you want to find out the Python version while inside the Python interpreter, you can start it by typing python or python3 in the Terminal and pressing Enter. Once you’re in the interpreter (you’ll notice the prompt changes), you can check the version by typing import sys followed by print(sys.version). This will give you detailed information about the version. Don’t worry about messing anything up because you can exit the interpreter at any time by typing exit() or pressing Ctrl + D. This way, you can have peace of mind while ensuring you start your projects with the right Python version!



    2. If you want to check which version of Python you have on your Mac, you really do need to use the Terminal, but don’t worry! It’s not as scary as it sounds.

      First off, to check your Python version, you can simply type a command into the Terminal. Here’s what you should do:

      1. Open the Terminal. You can find it by searching for “Terminal” in Spotlight (just press Command + Space and type “Terminal”).
      2. Now, try typing this command:
        3. python --version

        or if you are on macOS and have Python 3 installed, you might need to type:

        python3 --version

        Hit Enter, and it should show you the version number!

      If you see something like “Python 2.7.x” (where x is a number), that means you have Python 2 installed. If it shows something like “Python 3.8.x,” then you have Python 3. It’s important because many libraries are now only compatible with Python 3!

      Now, if you get both versions and want to know which one is the default, you can try this in the Terminal:

      python -V

      If “python” points to Python 2 and you want to use Python 3 as the default, just make sure you use “python3” for running scripts and commands.

      Also, yeah, you can check the version from the Python interpreter itself!

      1. Just type python or python3 in the Terminal and hit Enter.
      2. Once you see the Python prompt (like `>>>`), just type:
        3. import sys
print(sys.version)
      3. Hit Enter, and it will show you the version details there!

      It might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s super easy. Just take a deep breath and give it a go!


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