You can't ensure a specific version 3.9.6 with brew package python@3.9. Homebrew is a package manage designed to get latest pacakge. python@3.9 will be kept updating to the latest patch version 3.9.x.

If you REALLY to stick with specific python version, choose conda (miniconda is preferred) or pyenv.

Answer from Simba on Stack Overflow
🌐
Python
python.org › downloads › macos
Python Releases for macOS | Python.org
Download macOS installer · Python 3.13.9 - Oct. 14, 2025 · Download macOS 64-bit universal2 installer · Python 3.14.0 - Oct. 7, 2025 · Download macOS 64-bit universal2 installer · Python 3.13.8 - Oct. 7, 2025 · Download macOS 64-bit universal2 installer ·
🌐
Tutorials24x7
tutorials24x7.com › python › how-to-install-python-39-on-mac
How To Install Python 3.9 On Mac | Tutorials24x7
October 24, 2020 - The next sections provide the steps to install the most recent version of Python using the installer. Open the Downloads Link having the list of available versions of Python as shown in Fig 2. ... Now click the link Python 3.9.0.
Discussions

How to setup Python 3.9.2 Default - Apple Community
How can I setup python 3.9.2 as my default on OS Mojave? I have installed some app through terminal and it doesn't shows in Application or finder application folder that I can delete it, how can I clean up that from my computer (OS Mojave)? how to clean Junk files and app from MacBook Pro installed ... More on discussions.apple.com
🌐 discussions.apple.com
February 26, 2021
installation - how to install python 3.9.6 using homebrew on Mac m1 - Stack Overflow
Im new to programming and stuff and was looking to install python 3.9.6 using home-brew. To do that would I just have to type in brew install python@3.9 into the terminal, or is there some other way? More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
How To Install Python 3.9 On Mac
brew install python3 That's all you need. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Python
2
0
October 31, 2020
No idea how Python (3.9) was installed on mac, brew can't find Python and there's no app drawer icon
Python 3.9 comes default in Mac. It’ll always just be there. But honestly you’re best of ignoring that and installing python through brew, conda, or pyenv so that you can keep the installation you use separate, maintain virtual environments etc. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnpython
1
0
July 9, 2024
🌐
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to Download & Install Python 3.9.0 on MAC - YouTube
Learn how to install Python 3.9 on MAC OS. We will see the installation with a live running example.Download Python: https://www.python.org/Install Python on...
Published: October 28, 2020
🌐
Python documentation
docs.python.org › 3 › using › mac.html
5. Using Python on macOS — Python 3.15.2 documentation
Be aware that running the script directly from the macOS Finder might produce different results than when running from a terminal window as the script will not be run in the usual shell environment including any setting of environment variables in shell profiles. And, as with any other script or program, be certain of what you are about to run. Besides the standard python.org for macOS installer, there are third-party distributions for macOS that may include additional functionality.
🌐
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › python › how-to-install-python-on-mac
How to Install Python on Mac [2025 Guide for M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs] - GeeksforGeeks
July 12, 2025 - Follow the below easy steps in order to install Homebrew on Mac even if you have the pre-installed Python in your Mac Device: Use the Shortcut key Command + Space, type Terminal, and hit Enter.
🌐
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 252499858
How to setup Python 3.9.2 Default - Apple Community
February 26, 2021 - This should land in your Downloads folder and is a proper macOS installer. It will install Python 3.9.2 into /Library/Frameworks/Python.frameworks, and create links from its binaries (python3, idle3, pip3, etc.) into /usr/local/bin. It also installs a Python 3.9 folder in your /Applications folder and modifies your PATH statement in your ~/.bash_profile file. Your initial PATH statement needs to access /usr/local/bin before other PATH locations: ... which would allow you to run them from the Terminal after making them executable, and with or without that first line preamble, you can also run them via:
Find elsewhere
🌐
Python
python.org › downloads
Download Python | Python.org
1 week ago - Python 3.9.9 Nov. 15, 2021 Download Release notes · Python 3.9.8 Nov.
🌐
Flavio Copes
flaviocopes.com › home › python › installing python 3 on macos
Installing Python 3 on macOS - Flavio Copes
2 weeks ago - There is a /usr/bin/python3, but it’s a stub. The first time you run it, macOS asks you to install the Xcode Command Line Tools, and only then you get a real interpreter.
🌐
Medium
pillyshi.medium.com › how-to-install-python-3-9-1-on-macos-big-sur-58d62123f6a5
How to install Python (3.9.1) on macOS Big Sur | by pillyshi | Medium
January 7, 2021 - Here, I introduce a way to install Python 3.9.1 using installer which can be downloaded from official site. Visit official site and download installer. In my case, I chose macOS 64-bit Intel Installer.
🌐
Will Vincent
wsvincent.com › install-python
Python 3 Installation & Setup Guide | Will Vincent
July 19, 2021 - Type python --version to confirm which version is installed and then the same print("Hello, World") command as before. That’s it! You’re ready to go. On Mac the recommended approach is to use the official Python.org installer.
🌐
Homebrew
formulae.brew.sh › formula › python@3.9
Homebrew Formulae: python@3.9
Formula code: python@3.9.rb on GitHub · Bottle (binary package) installation support provided for: Current versions: Other versions: Depends on: Depends on when building from source: Uses from macOS: bzip2, expat, libffi, libxcrypt, ncurses, unzip · Binaries: 2to3-3.9, idle3.9, pydoc3.9, python3.9, python3.9-config ·
🌐
freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › how-to-install-python-on-a-mac
How to Install Python on a Mac
May 9, 2024 - You'll need to install Xcode Command Line Tools before you begin programming on a Mac. You should check if Xcode Command Line Tools are installed before you proceed further. When you install Xcode Command Line Tools, Apple includes Python 3.9.6.
🌐
freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › python-version-on-mac-update
How to Install Python 3 on Mac – Brew Install Update Tutorial
April 6, 2021 - Just re-run the above pyenv install 3.9.2 and it should now work. First you need to update your Unix path to pave a way for PyEnv to be able to interact with your system. This is a long explanation of how PATH works in MacOS (and Unix), straight from the pyenv GitHub repo. When you run a command like python or pip, your operating system searches through a list of directories to find an executable file with that name.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/python › how to install python 3.9 on mac
r/Python on Reddit: How To Install Python 3.9 On Mac
October 31, 2020 - $ xcode-select --install $ /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)" $ brew install openssl xz gdbm $ brew install pyenv $ pyenv install 3.9
🌐
YouTube
youtube.com › the zen developer
How to install Python 3.9 on Mac - YouTube
How to install Python 3.0 on Mac - In this tutorial, I will walk you through the step by step installation process for Python 3.9 on Mac. I will also show h...
Published: October 25, 2020
Views: 1K
🌐
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to install Python on Mac | Run first Program
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
🌐
Snyk
snyk.io › articles › how-to-install-python-on-macos
How to Install Python on macOS | How to run Python on mac Terminal | Snyk
February 18, 2025 - For example, to run a script with Python 3.9, you would use the python3.9 command in your Terminal. Homebrew is an open-source software package management system that simplifies software installation on Apple's Mac OS ...
🌐
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to Install Python 3.9 on Mac (2021) - YouTube
Learn How to Install Python 3.9 on Mac. It is simple process to download and install python 3.9 on Mac, follow this video.0:00 Intro0:05 Install Python 3.9 o...
Published: April 18, 2021
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › no idea how python (3.9) was installed on mac, brew can't find python and there's no app drawer icon
r/learnpython on Reddit: No idea how Python (3.9) was installed on mac, brew can't find Python and there's no app drawer icon
July 9, 2024 -

I wish mac had an uninstall utility like windows that showed all programs on windows regardless of how they were installed.

Today I wanted to upgrade python, which for some reason automatically works even though I don't remember ever installing it. Maybe VSCode installed it itself? No idea. In any case I saw that it was an older version so I tried upgrading, I couldn't find a command from within Python to upgrade itself so I tried brew, but brew can't find python (or python3) so I looked for it in the apps. Not there.

I tried using the GUI installer hoping it'd find its own previous version like what happens in windows, and offer to upgrade.

Also I'm not sure where "python" has disappeared now, it seems to have cleared the path and replaced it with a python3 so on the terminal doing "python --version" no longer outputs 3.9.x but instead says not found, while a python3 --version command now works and outputs 3.12.