Kali Linux – How to upgrade python 2.7 to python 3.7

I have covered changing the default version of python in Debian, however for those looking to Google for a quick fix on Kali, I hope that this reaches you well.

This was tested on a completely fresh install of Kali Linux with no other alterations made prior.

The basic premise is to configure Kali to use python 3.7 at a higher priority to python 2.7 or any other version installed on the system.

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Check your python version

Step 1 is to check your current python version:

python -V

or

python --version

Kali default output:
Python 2.7.17

Set your Python Default

Now it is time configure the priority for the versions of python that we have installed, 2.7 and 3.5/7. You can list all of the available alternatives installed by running:

ls /usr/bin/python*

To set your version priorities, with 3.7 being the high priority:

update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python2.7 1

update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3.7 2

We have just set 3.7 (2) to have a priority great than 2.7 (1). Now when we list the python priorities we see see 3.7 is higher that 2.7:

update-alternatives --config python

This is also a great way to easily switch those priorities around once they have been set.

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Check you default version, again…

python -V

Now this command should return the default which you configured above.

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Other Useful Python tips:

• https://exitcode0.net/debian-9-how-to-upgrade-python-3-5-to-python-3-7/ – Debian 9 – How to upgrade python 3.5 to python 3.7
• https://exitcode0.net/changing-the-default-python-version-in-debian/ – Changing the default python version in Debian

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