Install and Upgrade pip to the Latest Version

What pip is

Python is a popular programming language. pip is the tool that installs and manages Python packages (libraries) such as NumPy or Flask.

Install pip

On Debian and Ubuntu:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip

Check the installation:

pip3 --version

or:

pip --version

For help:

pip3 help

Upgrade pip

Run:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip

On Linux you may need python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip. Inside a virtual environment this works without sudo.

Downgrade pip

Install an older version by name, for example 18.0:

python -m pip install pip==18.0

Check the result with pip3 --version.

Manage packages with pip

Install a package

pip3 install numpy

(or pip install numpy)

Update a package

pip3 install --upgrade numpy

Remove a package

pip3 uninstall numpy

List installed packages

pip3 list

Install from a file

pip3 install -r requirements.txt

Tips

• Use a virtual environment (python3 -m venv venv) for each project.
• On new Debian and Ubuntu versions, pip may refuse to install system-wide with the message "externally-managed-environment". Use a virtual environment or pipx.
• Keep pip updated.

Quick recap

• sudo apt install python3-pip installs pip.
• python -m pip install --upgrade pip upgrades it.
• Use virtual environments for projects.