How can I update Google Colab’s Python version?

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In Google Colab you have a Debian-based Linux, and you can do whatever you can on a Debian Linux. Upgrading Python is as easy as upgrading it on your own Linux system.

Detect the current python version in Colab:

!python --version
#Python 3.8.16
  1. Install new python version

Let’s first install and upgrade to Python 3.9:

#install python 3.9
!sudo apt-get update -y
!sudo apt-get install python3.9

#change alternatives
!sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.8 1
!sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.9 2

#check python version
!python --version
#3.9.16
  1. Port Colab kernel to the new installed python

As mentioned in the comments, the above commands just add a new python version to your google colab and update the default python for commandline usage. But your runtime packages such as sys are still running on the previous python version. The following commands need to be executed as well, to update the sys version.

# install pip for new python 
!sudo apt-get install python3.9-distutils
!wget https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
!python get-pip.py

# credit of these last two commands blongs to @Erik
# install colab's dependencies
!python -m pip install ipython ipython_genutils ipykernel jupyter_console prompt_toolkit httplib2 astor

# link to the old google package
!ln -s /usr/local/lib/python3.8/dist-packages/google \
       /usr/local/lib/python3.9/dist-packages/google

Now you can restart runtime and check the sys version. Note that in the new python version you have to install every packages, such as pandas, tensorflow, etc. from scratch.

Also, note that you can see a list of installed Python versions and switch between them at any time with this command:
(If nothing changed after installation, use this command to select python version manually)

!sudo update-alternatives --config python3
#after running, enter the row number of the python version you want.

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