Anaconda had not updated Python internally to 3.6, but later versions of Anaconda has a Python 3.6 version here.

a) Method 1

  1. If you wanted to update, you will type conda update python

  2. To update Anaconda, type conda update conda

  3. If you want to upgrade between major python versions, like 3.5 to 3.6, you'll have to do

    conda install python=$pythonversion$
    

b) Method 2 - Create a new environment (the better method)

conda create --name py36 python=3.6

c) To get the absolute latest Python (3.6.5 at time of writing)

conda create --name py365 python=3.6.5 --channel conda-forge

You can see all this from here.

Also, refer to this for force upgrading.

Answer from Moulick on Stack Overflow
🌐
Conda
docs.conda.io › projects › conda › en › stable › user-guide › tasks › manage-python.html
Managing Python — conda 26.3.1 documentation
Replace py39 with the name of the environment you want to create. python=3.9 is the package and version you want to install in this new environment. This could be any package, such as numpy=1.19, or multiple packages. Activate the new environment. Verify that the new environment is your current environment. To verify that the current environment uses the new Python version, in your terminal window, run: ... conda config --add channels conda-forge conda config --set channel_priority strict conda create -n pypy pypy conda activate pypy
Discussions

When downloading Anaconda how do you use the latest version of Python?
conda create --name ENV_NAME python=3.10 You can also try conda update conda to see if it's update your conda base installation to 3.10. More on reddit.com
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September 28, 2022
How to install the specific version of Python with Anaconda? - Stack Overflow
The Anaconda distribution with Python 3.6.5 was version 5.2.0.1 You can download this from the Anaconda distribution archive. If you do install from this, then make sure to update Conda immediately after installation: More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
How to install Python 3.12.3 32bit with anaconda
The Conda distribution channel for win-32 only has Python versions up to 3.10.4. If you need anything newer than that, you'll need to build Python yourself using conda build using a modified version of this recipe . Then, you should be able to create an empty Conda environment and install the Python you just compiled using conda install .tar.gz. Alternatively, you can install Python directly using the official installer or build it from the tarball and manage your packages and environments using pip and venv/virtualenv. Unfortunately, you cannot use a local/self-compiled Python with Conda. Truth be told, it's exceptionally unlikely that you'll run into any compatibility issues with using Python 3.10. There really wasn't any exciting new features added in Python 3.11 or 3.12, unless you're a f-string fanatic of some sort. I would just use Python 3.10 and not deal with the headache of manually managing your Python installation. More on reddit.com
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June 20, 2024
Upgrading python - How do I ... ? - Conda Community Forum
How can I upgrade my python 3.1 to the newest version? I have miniconda installed and just updated that. Once I upgrade, will it be accessible in all my conda environments? Many thanks! More on conda.discourse.group
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June 7, 2024
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Conda
docs.conda.io › projects › conda › en › 23.1.x › user-guide › tasks › manage-python.html
Managing Python — conda 23.1.0 documentation
Replace py39 with the name of the environment you want to create. anaconda is the metapackage that includes all of the Python packages comprising the Anaconda distribution. python=3.9 is the package and version you want to install in this new environment. This could be any package, such as numpy=1.19, or multiple packages. Activate the new environment. Verify that the new environment is your current environment. To verify that the current environment uses the new Python version, in your terminal window or an Anaconda Prompt, run: ... conda config --add channels conda-forge conda config --set channel_priority strict conda create -n pypy pypy conda activate pypy
🌐
Conda
docs.conda.io › projects › conda › en › latest › user-guide › tasks › manage-python.html
Managing Python — conda 25.5.2.dev59 documentation
Replace py39 with the name of the environment you want to create. python=3.9 is the package and version you want to install in this new environment. This could be any package, such as numpy=1.19, or multiple packages. Activate the new environment. Verify that the new environment is your current environment. To verify that the current environment uses the new Python version, in your terminal window, run: ... conda config --add channels conda-forge conda config --set channel_priority strict conda create -n pypy pypy conda activate pypy
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Conda
docs.conda.io › projects › conda › en › 4.6.1 › user-guide › tasks › manage-python.html
Managing Python — conda 4.6.1 documentation
To list only the packages whose full name is exactly python, add the --full-name option. In your Terminal window or an Anaconda Prompt, run: ... To install a different version of Python without overwriting the current version, create a new environment and install the second Python version into it:
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › when downloading anaconda how do you use the latest version of python?
r/learnpython on Reddit: When downloading Anaconda how do you use the latest version of Python?
September 28, 2022 -

I'm completely new to programming and my teacher told us to download Anaconda. When I went to the official website there's Anaconda for only Python v3.9 whereas the Python website has it's latest version as 3.10.7.

So I'm pretty sure Anaconda comes with it's own version of Python, but is there anyway to use the latest version? If I download Python 3.10.7 can I switch to that instead of the default Anaconda 3.9 and still use the IDLE's?

Edit: For future reference:

  1. conda cmd-->admin to grant necessary permissions.

  2. create a new environment variable to combat solving env errors:

    conda create --name [ENV_NAME]

  3. update conda or install python version

    conda update --all conda install python==[version]

Top answer
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Anaconda Downloads

The Anaconda distribution with Python 3.6.5 was version 5.2.0.1 You can download this from the Anaconda distribution archive. If you do install from this, then make sure to update Conda immediately after installation:

conda update conda

However, I strongly recommend the following alternate solution as better practice.

Miniconda + Anaconda environment

Reasoning

What is installed in the base environment is relatively fixed once installed. Ultimately, you don't want to mess with your base environment, so best practice is to have the latest version there. Fortunately, you don't have to install a full Anaconda distribution, but rather can use a lightweight Miniconda (or Miniforge) distribution and create a secondary environment for the purpose of having an Anaconda Python 3.6.5 distribution. In the long run this will give you better stability.

Steps

  1. Download and install Miniconda or a Miniforge variant. Once that is working...

  2. Create your Anaconda env:

     conda create --name my_env -c anaconda python=3.6.5 anaconda=5.2.0
    
  3. Use your new isolated env:

     conda activate my_env
    

[1] I determined this by running conda create -n foo --dry-run -c anaconda python=3.6.5 anaconda and then examining the version of the anaconda package that Conda ended up with in the solve.

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Also try

conda install python=3.6.5

but you may encounter some incompatibility issues with other packages.

Alternatively, you may want to try creating a new environment. From the anaconda prompt, create a custom environment and specify the repository channel to find the version

conda create --name py365 python=3.6.5 --channel conda-forge

Activate the new environment

conda activate py365

However, the activation will not be permanent, and you will need to activate each time you start the anaconda prompt.

Find elsewhere
🌐
Conda
docs.conda.io › projects › conda › en › 4.12.x › user-guide › tasks › manage-python.html
Managing Python — conda 4.12.0 documentation
Replace py39 with the name of the ... python=3.9 is the package and version you want to install in this new environment. This could be any package, such as numpy=1.19, or multiple packages. To create the new environment for Python 3.9, in your terminal window or an Anaconda Prompt, run: ... Activate the new environment. Verify that the new environment is your current environment. To verify that the current environment uses the new Python version, in your terminal window or an Anaconda Prompt, run: ... conda config conda config ...
🌐
Anaconda.org
anaconda.org › conda-forge › python
python - conda-forge
February 4, 2026 - Organization created on Apr 11, 2015 · A community-led collection of recipes, build infrastructure, and distributions for the conda package manager
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Conda
docs.conda.io › projects › conda › en › latest › user-guide › concepts › installing-with-conda.html
Installing with conda — conda 26.1.2.dev87 documentation
conda install can be used to install any version. ... If Python 2.7.0 is currently installed, and the latest version of Python 2 is 2.7.5, then conda update python installs Python 2.7.5.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › how to install python 3.12.3 32bit with anaconda
r/learnpython on Reddit: How to install Python 3.12.3 32bit with anaconda
June 20, 2024 -

I have a 32bit machine, doing the command conda search python only shows that the latest version that I can install is v3.10.0 I want specifically v3.12.3 32bit but It is not found,

I can download that version from the python website but how do I tell anaconda to use that version?

Top answer
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The Conda distribution channel for win-32 only has Python versions up to 3.10.4. If you need anything newer than that, you'll need to build Python yourself using conda build using a modified version of this recipe . Then, you should be able to create an empty Conda environment and install the Python you just compiled using conda install .tar.gz. Alternatively, you can install Python directly using the official installer or build it from the tarball and manage your packages and environments using pip and venv/virtualenv. Unfortunately, you cannot use a local/self-compiled Python with Conda. Truth be told, it's exceptionally unlikely that you'll run into any compatibility issues with using Python 3.10. There really wasn't any exciting new features added in Python 3.11 or 3.12, unless you're a f-string fanatic of some sort. I would just use Python 3.10 and not deal with the headache of manually managing your Python installation.
2 of 2
-1
If conda search python only shows up to version 3.10.0, it's possible that Anaconda does not have a pre-built package for version 3.12.3 yet. In this case, you can manually install Python 3.12.3 from the Python website and create a new environment using this specific version with Anaconda. Here are the steps you can follow to use Python 3.12.3 in Anaconda: Download Python 3.12.3 32-bit installer from the Python website ( https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-3123/ ). Install Python 3.12.3 on your system by running the installer. Open Anaconda Prompt. Create a new conda environment with the desired Python version: conda create --name py3.12.3 python=3.12.3 Activate the newly created environment: conda activate py3.12.3 Install any additional packages you need in this environment using conda or pip. By following these steps, you will have a conda environment using Python 3.12.3 on your 32-bit machine with Anaconda. Remember to activate this environment whenever you want to work with this specific version of Python.
🌐
Conda Community
conda.discourse.group › users › how do i ... ?
Upgrading python - How do I ... ? - Conda Community Forum
June 7, 2024 - How can I upgrade my python 3.1 to the newest version? I have miniconda installed and just updated that. Once I upgrade, will it be accessible in all my conda environments? Many thanks!
🌐
Conda
docs.conda.io › projects › conda › en › stable › user-guide › concepts › installing-with-conda.html
Installing with conda — conda 26.3.1 documentation
conda install can be used to install any version. ... If Python 2.7.0 is currently installed, and the latest version of Python 2 is 2.7.5, then conda update python installs Python 2.7.5.
Top answer
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Inside of conda environment, you can update python to latest as follow:

conda update python

Or you can upgrade or downgrade the environment python version:

conda install python=3.10

Updating or Upgrading Python

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Open conda shell prompt. (On Windows Anaconda Powershell Prompt)

You first check

conda search python

You will get all the supported versions. It may look like:

Loading channels: done
# Name                       Version           Build  Channel
python                        2.7.13     h1b6d89f_16  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.13     h9912b81_15  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.13     hb034564_12  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.14     h2765ee6_18  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.14     h3e68818_15  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.14     h4084c39_22  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.14     h4a10d90_30  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.14     h4a10d90_31  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.14     h59f5a59_20  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.14     h819644d_16  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.14     h8c3f1cb_23  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.15      h2880e7c_2  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.15      h2880e7c_3  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.15      h2880e7c_4  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.15     hcb6e200_15  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.15      hcb6e200_5  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.15      hcb6e200_7  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.15      he216670_0  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.16      hcb6e200_0  pkgs/main
python                        2.7.17      h930f6bb_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.4     h1357f44_23  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.4     hc495aa9_21  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.4     hd3c4935_11  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.4     hdec4e59_20  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.4     hedc2606_15  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.5      h0c2934d_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.5      h0c2934d_1  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.5      h0c2934d_2  pkgs/main
python                         3.5.6      he025d50_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.2     h09676a0_15  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.2     h6679aeb_11  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.3      h210ce5f_2  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.3      h3389d20_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.3      h3b118a2_4  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.3      h9e2ca53_1  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.4      h0c2934d_2  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.4      h0c2934d_3  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.4      h6538335_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.4      h6538335_1  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.5      h0c2934d_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.6      hea74fb7_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.7      h33f27b4_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.7      h33f27b4_1  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.7      h9f7ef89_2  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.8      h9f7ef89_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.8      h9f7ef89_1  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.8      h9f7ef89_7  pkgs/main
python                         3.6.9      h5500b2f_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.0      hea74fb7_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.1      h33f27b4_3  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.1      h33f27b4_4  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.1      h8c8aaf0_6  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.1      he44a216_5  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.2      h8c8aaf0_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.2     h8c8aaf0_10  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.2      h8c8aaf0_2  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.3      h8c8aaf0_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.3      h8c8aaf0_1  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.4      h5263a28_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.7.5      h8c8aaf0_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.8.0      hff0d562_0  pkgs/main
python                         3.8.0      hff0d562_1  pkgs/main
python                         3.8.0      hff0d562_2  pkgs/main

Then simple select the version conda install python=3.8.0 if this is the last version.

🌐
Saturn Cloud
saturncloud.io › blog › how-to-install-python-39-with-conda-a-guide-for-data-scientists
How to Install Python 3.9 with Conda: A Comprehensive Guide | Saturn Cloud Blog
November 17, 2023 - In this blog, learn how to easily install Python 3.9 with Conda, empowering your data science endeavors with its versatility and rich library ecosystem.
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Saturn Cloud
saturncloud.io › blog › updating-python-to-a-specific-version-using-conda-a-guide
Updating Python to a Specific Version Using Conda: A Comprehensive Guide | Saturn Cloud Blog
November 16, 2023 - This guide will walk you through the process of updating Python to a specific version using Conda, a popular package, dependency, and environment management tool. Conda is a cross-platform package manager that can install packages for multiple languages, including Python.
🌐
Anaconda
anaconda.com › docs › getting-started › miniconda › main
Miniconda - Anaconda
The Choosing between Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda page lists some reasons why you might want one installation over the other. For the latest Miniconda installers for Python 3.13, go to anaconda.com/download.
Top answer
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To create python 3.11 conda environment use the following command

conda create -n py311 python=3.11
py311 - environment name

Update 3

To create python 3.10 conda environment use the following command

conda create -n py310 python=3.10
py310 - environment name

Update 2

You can now directly create python 3.9 environment using the following command

conda create -n py39 python=3.9
py39 - environment name

Update 1

Python 3.9 is now available in conda-forge.

To download the tar file - https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/python/3.9.0/download/linux-64/python-3.9.0-h852b56e_0_cpython.tar.bz2

Anaconda Page - https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/python


As pointed out in the comments, python 3.9 is not yet there on any channels. So, it cannot be install yet via conda.

Instead, you can download the python 3.9 executable and install it.

Once the installation is done, a new executable will be created for python 3.9 and pip 3.9 will be created.

Python:

python3.7          
python3.7-config   
python3.7m         
python3.7m-config  
python3.9          
python3.9-config

pip

pip      
pip3     
pip3.7   
pip3.8   
pip3.9   
pipreqs

In order to install ipython for python 3.9,

pip3.9 install ipython
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On 6-Oct-2020, Python 3.9 was made available on conda-forge: https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/python. However, most of the other packages (including some of the essentials to create a basic environment) didn't explicitly support Python 3.9 yet.

However (as of 15-Oct-2020), the basic dependencies appear to have been fixed and the following command now works:

conda create -c conda-forge python=3.9 -n py39-demo
🌐
NBShare
nbshare.io › notebook › 297433759 › How-To-Install-Python-With-Conda
How To Install Python With Conda
To activate the python3.9 Conda environment, type following command... ... Now if you type and hit "tab", you should see Python3.9 in the list of available Python versions. ... >>> (py39) [root@ns3273416 downloads]# python python python3-config python3.6-debug-config python3.6m-x86_64-config ...
🌐
Python
earth-env-data-science.github.io › lectures › environment › python_environments.html
Managing Python Environments — Earth and Environmental Data Science
This will create a special environment in $MINICONDA_HOME/envs/my_environment with only Python and numpy to begin with. Here, we’ve also told conda to install Python version 3.9; you can specify exact versions or minima, and conda will take care of figuring out all the compatibilities between ...