How to Install the Latest Python Version on Debian/Ubuntu Linux

If you’re using Debian or Ubuntu, chances are your default Python version is a few steps behind the latest release. This guide shows you how to install the newest stable version of Python on your system — without messing up the system’s default Python (which many core components depend on).

Let’s get straight to it.

✅ Step 1: Update Your System

First, make sure your system is up to date.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

✅ Step 2: Install Required Build Tools

You’ll need some packages to build Python from source:

sudo apt install -y make build-essential libssl-dev zlib1g-dev \
libbz2-dev libreadline-dev libsqlite3-dev wget curl llvm \
libncursesw5-dev xz-utils tk-dev libxml2-dev libxmlsec1-dev \
libffi-dev liblzma-dev

✅ Step 3: Download the Latest Python Source Code

Head to the official Python website and find the latest stable release. Then run:

cd /usr/src
sudo wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.x.x/Python-3.x.x.tgz
sudo tar xzf Python-3.x.x.tgz
cd Python-3.x.x

Replace 3.x.x with the actual latest version, like 3.12.3.

✅ Step 4: Build and Install

Use the --enable-optimizations flag for better performance.

sudo ./configure --enable-optimizations
sudo make -j "$(nproc)"
sudo make altinstall

Use make altinstall instead of make install to avoid overwriting the system’s default Python binary (python3).

✅ Step 5: Verify the Installation

Check your new Python version:

python3.12 --version

You can now use the latest Python by explicitly calling python3.12.

Optional: Set Up Virtual Environments

If you plan to use this new version in isolated environments:

python3.12 -m venv myenv
source myenv/bin/activate

This keeps your dependencies clean and separate from system Python packages.

🧠 Pro Tip: Use update-alternatives to Manage Multiple Python Versions

If you want to switch between multiple versions easily:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/local/bin/python3.12 1
sudo update-alternatives --config python

Done ✅

You now have the latest version of Python running alongside your system’s default installation — clean, safe, and future-ready.

Need help with virtualenv, pip, or managing multiple Python projects? Drop a comment below or check out my other Python tutorials.