Install pip the official way:

curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py
python3.8 get-pip.py

made 3.8 my default Python version

It depends on how you did that, but it might break something in your OS. For example some packages on Ubuntu 18.04 might depend on python being python2.7 or python3 being python3.6 with some pip packages preinstalled.

Answer from RafalS on Stack Overflow

Install pip the official way:

curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py
python3.8 get-pip.py

made 3.8 my default Python version

It depends on how you did that, but it might break something in your OS. For example some packages on Ubuntu 18.04 might depend on python being python2.7 or python3 being python3.6 with some pip packages preinstalled.

Answer from RafalS on Stack Overflow
🌐
Python
python.org › downloads › release › python-380
Python Release Python 3.8.0 | Python.org
October 7, 2024 - There are now "web-based" installers for Windows platforms; the installer will download the needed software components at installation time. There are redistributable zip files containing the Windows builds, making it easy to redistribute Python as part of another software package. Please see the documentation regarding Embedded Distribution for more information. For Python 3.8.0, we provide one installer: 64-bit-only that works on macOS 10.9 (Mavericks) and later systems.
Discussions

installing pip for 3.8 using get-pip.py on 18.04 leaves a broken state
so the python3.8 pip is confused about what its systemwide modules are, which causes confusion downstream if you want to install more systemwide packages for 3.8 More on github.com
🌐 github.com
5
October 28, 2019
I installed python 3.10 on my Mac but when I enter “python —version” it returns 3.8.3. How do I fix this?
A better option is probably to leave your system version alone and use pyenv. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnpython
86
148
June 26, 2022
Installing win32api in python
From the command prompt, try: pip install win32api Also, if you're putting code into your post, use either the code-box (if on full website) or bracket it with three back-ticks (```) which has the same effect. It makes it so much easier to format the code so it's readable 😊. There's a formatting guide in the side-bar on the sub too. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Python
5
0
November 3, 2019
Install SQLite3 on Python 3

That error means that you didn't have the SQLite development package installed when you built Python. The sqlite3 binary CLI program is totally irrelevant; Python does not use that, and its presence does not mean you have the correct package installed. The necessary package is libsqlite3-dev. You don't need --enable-loadable-sqlite-extensions.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Python
14
2
February 17, 2017
🌐
PyPI
pypi.org › project › pip
pip · PyPI
3 weeks ago - The PyPA recommended tool for installing Python packages. ... pip is the package installer for Python.
      » pip install pip
    
Published   May 31, 2026
Version   26.1.2
🌐
Python
python.org › downloads
Download Python | Python.org
Note that some executables may not be signed, notably, the default pip command. These are not built as part of Python, but are included from third-party libraries. Files that are intended to be modified before use cannot be signed and so will not have a signature. Installer packages for Python on macOS downloadable from python.org are signed with with an Apple Developer ID Installer certificate. As of Python 3.11.4 and 3.12.0b1 (2023-05-23), release installer packages are signed with certificates issued to the Python Software Foundation (Apple Developer ID BMM5U3QVKW).
🌐
River
river.me › blog › change-pip-version
Update pip/pip3 to Python 3.8 in Ubuntu – River Writes - A MediaWiki Blog
April 11, 2021 - python3 -m pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall pip · What a helpful warning! So I added /home/river/.local/bin/ to my $PATH (before doing this, I echo $PATH’d just in case I messed up): ... And I also put it into ~/.profile and ~/.config/fish/config.fish per this Ask Ubuntu post.
Find elsewhere
🌐
pip
pip.pypa.io › en › stable › installation
Installation - pip documentation v26.1.2
Python comes with an ensurepip module[1], which can install pip in a Python environment.
🌐
GitHub
github.com › deadsnakes › issues › issues › 95
installing pip for 3.8 using get-pip.py on 18.04 leaves a broken state · Issue #95 · deadsnakes/issues
October 28, 2019 - description start from an 18.04 base, add deadsnakes ppa install python3.8, python3.8-dev, python3.8-venv install pip using curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | python3.8 run python3.8 -m pip freeze and you see: pygobject==3.26.1 ...
Author   deadsnakes
🌐
ActiveState
activestate.com › home › resources › quick read › how to install and use pip3
How to install and use Pip3 - ActiveState
January 23, 2024 - Learn step by step how to install and use Pip3 for linux, windows and macOS. Understand how to use it common package management tools.
🌐
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to Install Python 3.8 & pip 3 on Ubuntu 20.04
To learn more, please visit the YouTube Help Center: https://www.youtube.com/help
🌐
Microsoft
microsoft.com › es-co › p › python-38 › 9mssztt1n39l
Python 3.8: descarga e instalación gratuitas en Windows
Skip to main content · Microsoft · Cancel · Your current User-Agent string appears to be from an automated process, if this is incorrect, please click this link: · United States English Microsoft Homepage · English (United States)
🌐
Cloudera
docs.cloudera.com › cdp-private-cloud-base › 7.1.9 › installation › topics › cdpdc-cm-install-python-3-rhel7-standard-location.html
Installing Python 3.8 standard package on RHEL 7
July 19, 2024 - Install Python 3.8 by running the following command: ... scl enable rh-python38 -- pip install --upgrade pip scl enable rh-python38 -- pip install psycopg2-binary
🌐
Red Hat
docs.redhat.com › en › documentation › red_hat_enterprise_linux › 8 › html › configuring_basic_system_settings › installing-and-using-dynamic-programming-languages_configuring-basic-system-settings
Chapter 16. Installing and using dynamic programming languages | Configuring basic system settings | Red Hat Enterprise Linux | 8 | Red Hat Documentation
Python 3.11 and Python 3.12 are distributed as suites of non-modular RPM packages, including the python3.11 and python3.12 packages. You can install multiple Python versions in parallel on the same RHEL 8 system. ... Always specify the version of Python when installing it, invoking it, or otherwise interacting with it. For example, use python3 instead of python in package and command names. All Python-related commands must also include the version, for example, pip3, pip2, pip3.11, or pip3.12.
🌐
Python Forum
python-forum.io › thread-21908.html
How should I upgrade python to 3.8.0?
October 20, 2019 - Hi! It seems that the highest latest version of python is 3.8.0: https://python-forum.io/Thread-Python-3-8-0-is-released https://www.python.org/downloads/ I have installed Python 3.7.4: As I think tha
🌐
Coding for Entrepreneurs
codingforentrepreneurs.com › blog › install-python-django-on-windows
Install Python 3.8, Virtual Environments using Pipenv ...
March 1, 2020 - Pipenv allows you to install any ... other python packages. pipenv and pip work hand-in-hand in managing your virtual environment. You can install things like Django, Requests, PyTorch, Tensorflow, and much more. The first part of this guide is made for Windows 10, the bottom part of the guide works on Windows 7, 8, 10 & Up. Pick version 3.8.X (replace ...
🌐
Python
python.org › downloads › release › python-384
Python Release Python 3.8.4 | Python.org
October 7, 2024 - There are now "web-based" installers for Windows platforms; the installer will download the needed software components at installation time. There are redistributable zip files containing the Windows builds, making it easy to redistribute Python as part of another software package. Please see the documentation regarding Embedded Distribution for more information. For Python 3.8, we provide one installer: 64-bit-only that works on macOS 10.9 (Mavericks) and later systems.
🌐
Red Hat
redhat.com › en › blog › install-python-pip-linux
Install Python pip on Linux
November 21, 2025 - Pip is a useful tool for running and developing Python scripts and is easy to install.
🌐
Python
python.org › downloads › release › python-3811
Python Release Python 3.8.11 | Python.org
According to the release calendar specified in PEP 569, Python 3.8 is now in security fixes only stage of its life cycle: 3.8 branch only accepts security fixes and releases of those are made irregularly in source-only form until October 2024. Python 3.8 isn't receiving regular bugfixes anymore, and binary installers are no longer provided for it.
🌐
NLTK
nltk.org › install.html
NLTK :: Installing NLTK
For older versions of Python it might be necessary to install setuptools (see https://pypi.python.org/pypi/setuptools) and to install pip (sudo easy_install pip). These instructions assume that you do not already have Python installed on your machine. Install Python 3.12: https://www.pytho...