Install Python 2 on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux

Objective

Python version 3 is now the default python interpreter on Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop or Server release. However, if you need to install the older Python 2 version you can do that with a single apt command.

Operating System and Software Versions

• Operating System: - Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver

Requirements

Privileged access to your Ubuntu System as root or via sudo command is required.

Conventions

• # - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
• $ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

Other Versions of this Tutorial

Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa)

Instructions

To install Python 2 version on Ubuntu 18.04 open up terminal and enter:

$ sudo apt install python-minimal

Check installed python version:

$ python --version
Python 2.7.14+

Visit the following page if you need to install PIP tool for managing Python 2 packages.