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I always thought that pip was for Python 2 and pip3 was for Python 3. To install the different versions of pip I have done the following:

sudo apt-get install python-pip
sudo apt-get install python3-pip

then I get the following as one would expect:

$ pip --version
pip 8.1.1 from /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages (python 2.7)
$ pip3 --version
pip 8.1.1 from /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages (python 3.5)

Those are old versions, though, so I do the following:

$ sudo pip install pip --upgrade

and I get this:

$ pip --version
pip 19.0.3 from /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pip (python 2.7)
$ pip3 --version
pip 8.1.1 from /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages (python 3.5)

and when I do a pip3 install for some package, I get the following message:

You are using pip version 8.1.1, however version 19.0.3 is available.
You should consider upgrading via the 'pip install --upgrade pip' command.

Well, I already ran that, so I try this:

$ sudo pip3 install pip --upgrade
Installing collected packages: pip
  Found existing installation: pip 8.1.1
    Not uninstalling pip at /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages, outside environment /usr
Successfully installed pip-19.0.3

But now I get this:

$ pip --version
pip 19.0.3 from /usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/pip (python 3.5)
$ pip3 --version
pip 19.0.3 from /usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/pip (python 3.5)

Is that correct? Does this matter? Does a pip version from Python 3.5 work for installing Python 2 packages?

UPDATE

Based on the answer provided by @furas, these are all the commands I run to get updated versions of pip and pip3 installed correctly:

sudo apt-get install python-pip --yes
sudo apt-get install python3-pip --yes
sudo python3 -m pip install pip --upgrade
sudo python -m pip install pip --upgrade --force # this line fixes the pip install to point to the python2 version instead of the python3 version

and that yields the following:

$ pip --version
pip 19.0.3 from /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pip (python 2.7)
$ pip3 --version
pip 19.0.3 from /usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/pip (python 3.5)
Mike
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    update `pip` for Python 2 using `python -m pip install -U pip` and it should put correct `pip` – furas Apr 23 '19 at 22:21
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    you can also add `--force` to `python -m pip install -U --force pip`. Use `which pip` to find path to `pip` - I have `/usr/local/bin/pip`. The same with `which pip3`. it is python's script and you can see in first line `#!/usr/bin/python` or `#!/usr/bin/python3.5`. Rest code should be the same for all versions. – furas Apr 23 '19 at 22:28
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    you should have also `pip2` or even `pip2.7`, `pip3.5` Write in console `pip` and press tab - it should show all programs which start with `pip` – furas Apr 23 '19 at 22:29
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    @furas, I did the following and it worked: sudo pip install pip --upgrade --force - now when I type pip --version I get "pip 19.0.3 from /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pip (python 2.7)". I'm guessing I should be good? – Mike Apr 23 '19 at 22:35
  • If you want, type that up as an answer and I'll mark it as the answer. – Mike Apr 23 '19 at 22:35

1 Answers1

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Every Python should have own pip because every Python may use different version of the same module and every Python installs modules in different folder.

You can use Python2 to reinstall module pip for Python2 and it should create file with correct name pip

python -m pip install -U --force pip

You should also have pip, pip2, pip2.7, pip3, pip3.5.
You can even have pip3.6, pip3.7 at the same time.

If you write in console pip and press tab and it should show you all programs which start with word pip

You can find full path for pip with

which pip

and you can open it in text editor to see if it is python's script.

Different pip have different first line - ie. #!/usr/bin/python or #!/usr/bin/python3.5.
Rest code should be the same for all versions.

furas
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    After installing python 3's pip (and having it overwrite python 2's pip), using the --force flag combined with the use of "python -m pip" to force the python 2 interpreter to run the pip install solved the problem. Thanks! – Mike Apr 23 '19 at 22:44
  • run `which python` to check the version. then `python[VERSION] pip ...` will be worked, thus `python3.7 pip ...` – SuperStar518 Apr 24 '19 at 03:51
  • `python -m pip install -U --force pip` did not work for me. However, I did install a `pip2` using the script `get-pip.py` from [here](https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-install-pip-on-ubuntu-20.04/) – lui Apr 09 '21 at 11:30
  • @lui this command wasn't for installing `pip` - all `Python 2.x` and some older `Python 3.x` need to install it using `get-pip.py`. This command was only to upgrade existing `pip` and replace `pip` which installs modules for `python 3.x` with `pip` which installs modules for `python 2.x`. Currently when you install `Python 3.x` then it installs `pip` automatically and it also replaces previous `pip` (for `Python 2.x` or older `Python 3.x`) with `pip` for current `Python 3.x`. – furas Apr 09 '21 at 12:33