Add support for --upgrade in uv python install (#16676)

This allows us to suggest `uv python install --upgrade 3.14` as the
canonical way to get the latest patch version of a given Python
regardless of whether it is installed already. Currently, you can do `uv
python upgrade 3.14` and it will install it, but I'd like to remove that
behavior as I find it very surprising.

crates/uv-cli/src/lib.rs

@@ -5868,6 +5868,19 @@ pub struct PythonInstallArgs {
     #[arg(long, short)]
     pub force: bool,
 
+    /// Upgrade existing Python installations to the latest patch version.
+    ///
+    /// By default, uv will not upgrade already-installed Python versions to newer patch releases.
+    /// With `--upgrade`, uv will upgrade to the latest available patch version for the specified
+    /// minor version(s).
+    ///
+    /// If the requested versions are not yet installed, uv will install them.
+    ///
+    /// This option is only supported for minor version requests, e.g., `3.12`; uv will exit with an
+    /// error if a patch version, e.g., `3.12.2`, is requested.
+    #[arg(long, short = 'U')]
+    pub upgrade: bool,
+
     /// Use as the default Python version.
     ///
     /// By default, only a `python{major}.{minor}` executable is installed, e.g., `python3.10`. When

crates/uv/src/commands/mod.rs

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ pub(crate) use python::dir::dir as python_dir;
 pub(crate) use python::find::find as python_find;
 pub(crate) use python::find::find_script as python_find_script;
 pub(crate) use python::install::install as python_install;
+pub(crate) use python::install::{PythonUpgrade, PythonUpgradeSource};
 pub(crate) use python::list::list as python_list;
 pub(crate) use python::pin::pin as python_pin;
 pub(crate) use python::uninstall::uninstall as python_uninstall;

crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs

@@ -149,6 +149,31 @@ enum InstallErrorKind {
     Registry,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub(crate) enum PythonUpgradeSource {
+    /// The user invoked `uv python install --upgrade`
+    Install,
+    /// The user invoked `uv python upgrade`
+    Upgrade,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for PythonUpgradeSource {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::Install => write!(f, "uv python install --upgrade"),
+            Self::Upgrade => write!(f, "uv python upgrade"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub(crate) enum PythonUpgrade {
+    /// Python upgrades are enabled.
+    Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource),
+    /// Python upgrades are disabled.
+    Disabled,
+}
+
 /// Download and install Python versions.
 #[allow(clippy::fn_params_excessive_bools)]
 pub(crate) async fn install(
@@ -156,7 +181,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
     install_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     targets: Vec<String>,
     reinstall: bool,
-    upgrade: bool,
+    upgrade: PythonUpgrade,
     bin: Option<bool>,
     registry: Option<bool>,
     force: bool,
@@ -183,11 +208,13 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
         );
     }
 
-    if upgrade && !preview.is_enabled(PreviewFeatures::PYTHON_UPGRADE) {
+    if let PythonUpgrade::Enabled(source @ PythonUpgradeSource::Upgrade) = upgrade {
-        warn_user!(
+        if !preview.is_enabled(PreviewFeatures::PYTHON_UPGRADE) {
-            "`uv python upgrade` is experimental and may change without warning. Pass `--preview-features {}` to disable this warning",
+            warn_user!(
-            PreviewFeatures::PYTHON_UPGRADE
+                "`{source}` is experimental and may change without warning. Pass `--preview-features {}` to disable this warning",
-        );
+                PreviewFeatures::PYTHON_UPGRADE
+            );
+        }
     }
 
     if default && targets.len() > 1 {
@@ -207,8 +234,14 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
     // Resolve the requests
     let mut is_default_install = false;
     let mut is_unspecified_upgrade = false;
+    // TODO(zanieb): We use this variable to special-case .python-version files, but it'd be nice to
+    // have generalized request source tracking instead
+    let mut is_from_python_version_file = false;
     let requests: Vec<_> = if targets.is_empty() {
-        if upgrade {
+        if matches!(
+            upgrade,
+            PythonUpgrade::Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource::Upgrade)
+        ) {
             is_unspecified_upgrade = true;
             // On upgrade, derive requests for all of the existing installations
             let mut minor_version_requests = IndexSet::<InstallRequest>::default();
@@ -240,6 +273,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
                 );
             })
             .map(PythonVersionFile::into_versions)
+            .inspect(|_| is_from_python_version_file = true)
             .unwrap_or_else(|| {
                 // If no version file is found and no requests were made
                 // TODO(zanieb): We should consider differentiating between a global Python version
@@ -265,11 +299,20 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
     };
 
     if requests.is_empty() {
-        if upgrade {
+        match upgrade {
-            writeln!(
+            PythonUpgrade::Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource::Upgrade) => {
-                printer.stderr(),
+                writeln!(
-                "There are no installed versions to upgrade"
+                    printer.stderr(),
-            )?;
+                    "There are no installed versions to upgrade"
+                )?;
+            }
+            PythonUpgrade::Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource::Install) => {
+                writeln!(
+                    printer.stderr(),
+                    "No Python versions specified for upgrade; did you mean `uv python upgrade`?"
+                )?;
+            }
+            PythonUpgrade::Disabled => {}
         }
         return Ok(ExitStatus::Success);
     }
@@ -287,17 +330,25 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
         })
         .collect::<IndexSet<_>>();
 
-    if upgrade
+    if let PythonUpgrade::Enabled(source) = upgrade {
-        && let Some(request) = requests.iter().find(|request| {
+        if let Some(request) = requests.iter().find(|request| {
             request.request.includes_patch() || request.request.includes_prerelease()
-        })
+        }) {
-    {
+            writeln!(
-        writeln!(
+                printer.stderr(),
-            printer.stderr(),
+                "error: `{source}` only accepts minor versions, got: {}",
-            "error: `uv python upgrade` only accepts minor versions, got: {}",
+                request.request.to_canonical_string()
-            request.request.to_canonical_string()
+            )?;
-        )?;
+            if is_from_python_version_file {
-        return Ok(ExitStatus::Failure);
+                writeln!(
+                    printer.stderr(),
+                    "\n{}{} The version request came from a `.python-version` file; change the patch version in the file to upgrade instead",
+                    "hint".bold().cyan(),
+                    ":".bold(),
+                )?;
+            }
+            return Ok(ExitStatus::Failure);
+        }
     }
 
     // Find requests that are already satisfied
@@ -361,10 +412,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
         // If we can find one existing installation that matches the request, it is satisfied
         requests.iter().partition_map(|request| {
             if let Some(installation) = existing_installations.iter().find(|installation| {
-                if upgrade {
+                if matches!(upgrade, PythonUpgrade::Enabled(_)) {
-                    // If this is an upgrade, the requested version is a minor version
+                    // If this is an upgrade, the requested version is a minor version but the
-                    // but the requested download is the highest patch for that minor
+                    // requested download is the highest patch for that minor version. We need to
-                    // version. We need to install it unless an exact match is found.
+                    // install it unless an exact match is found.
                     request.download.key() == installation.key()
                 } else {
                     request.matches_installation(installation)
@@ -498,7 +549,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
                 force,
                 default,
                 upgradeable,
-                upgrade,
+                matches!(
+                    upgrade,
+                    PythonUpgrade::Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource::Upgrade)
+                ),
                 is_default_install,
                 &existing_installations,
                 &installations,
@@ -534,7 +588,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
         );
 
     for installation in minor_versions.values() {
-        if upgrade {
+        if matches!(
+            upgrade,
+            PythonUpgrade::Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource::Upgrade)
+        ) {
             // During an upgrade, update existing symlinks but avoid
             // creating new ones.
             installation.update_minor_version_link(preview)?;
@@ -545,24 +602,38 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
 
     if changelog.installed.is_empty() && errors.is_empty() {
         if is_default_install {
-            writeln!(
+            if matches!(
-                printer.stderr(),
+                upgrade,
-                "Python is already installed. Use `uv python install <request>` to install another version.",
+                PythonUpgrade::Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource::Install)
-            )?;
+            ) {
-        } else if upgrade && requests.is_empty() {
+                writeln!(
+                    printer.stderr(),
+                    "The default Python installation is already on the latest supported patch release. Use `uv python install <request>` to install another version.",
+                )?;
+            } else {
+                writeln!(
+                    printer.stderr(),
+                    "Python is already installed. Use `uv python install <request>` to install another version.",
+                )?;
+            }
+        } else if matches!(
+            upgrade,
+            PythonUpgrade::Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource::Upgrade)
+        ) && requests.is_empty()
+        {
             writeln!(
                 printer.stderr(),
                 "There are no installed versions to upgrade"
             )?;
-        } else if upgrade && is_unspecified_upgrade {
-            writeln!(
-                printer.stderr(),
-                "All versions already on latest supported patch release"
-            )?;
         } else if let [request] = requests.as_slice() {
             // Convert to the inner request
             let request = &request.request;
-            if upgrade {
+            if is_unspecified_upgrade {
+                writeln!(
+                    printer.stderr(),
+                    "All versions already on latest supported patch release"
+                )?;
+            } else if matches!(upgrade, PythonUpgrade::Enabled(_)) {
                 writeln!(
                     printer.stderr(),
                     "{request} is already on the latest supported patch release"
@@ -571,11 +642,18 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
                 writeln!(printer.stderr(), "{request} is already installed")?;
             }
         } else {
-            if upgrade {
+            if matches!(upgrade, PythonUpgrade::Enabled(_)) {
-                writeln!(
+                if is_unspecified_upgrade {
-                    printer.stderr(),
+                    writeln!(
-                    "All requested versions already on latest supported patch release"
+                        printer.stderr(),
-                )?;
+                        "All versions already on latest supported patch release"
+                    )?;
+                } else {
+                    writeln!(
+                        printer.stderr(),
+                        "All requested versions already on latest supported patch release"
+                    )?;
+                }
             } else {
                 writeln!(printer.stderr(), "All requested versions already installed")?;
             }

crates/uv/src/lib.rs

@@ -1543,15 +1543,13 @@ async fn run(mut cli: Cli) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
             // Resolve the settings from the command-line arguments and workspace configuration.
             let args = settings::PythonInstallSettings::resolve(args, filesystem, environment);
             show_settings!(args);
-            // TODO(john): If we later want to support `--upgrade`, we need to replace this.
-            let upgrade = false;
 
             commands::python_install(
                 &project_dir,
                 args.install_dir,
                 args.targets,
                 args.reinstall,
-                upgrade,
+                args.upgrade,
                 args.bin,
                 args.registry,
                 args.force,
@@ -1573,7 +1571,7 @@ async fn run(mut cli: Cli) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
             // Resolve the settings from the command-line arguments and workspace configuration.
             let args = settings::PythonUpgradeSettings::resolve(args, filesystem, environment);
             show_settings!(args);
-            let upgrade = true;
+            let upgrade = commands::PythonUpgrade::Enabled(commands::PythonUpgradeSource::Upgrade);
 
             commands::python_install(
                 &project_dir,

crates/uv/src/settings.rs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use std::process;
 use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
+use crate::commands::{PythonUpgrade, PythonUpgradeSource};
 use uv_auth::Service;
 use uv_cache::{CacheArgs, Refresh};
 use uv_cli::comma::CommaSeparatedRequirements;
@@ -1061,6 +1062,7 @@ pub(crate) struct PythonInstallSettings {
     pub(crate) targets: Vec<String>,
     pub(crate) reinstall: bool,
     pub(crate) force: bool,
+    pub(crate) upgrade: PythonUpgrade,
     pub(crate) bin: Option<bool>,
     pub(crate) registry: Option<bool>,
     pub(crate) python_install_mirror: Option<String>,
@@ -1101,6 +1103,7 @@ impl PythonInstallSettings {
             registry,
             no_registry,
             force,
+            upgrade,
             mirror: _,
             pypy_mirror: _,
             python_downloads_json_url: _,
@@ -1112,6 +1115,11 @@ impl PythonInstallSettings {
             targets,
             reinstall,
             force,
+            upgrade: if upgrade {
+                PythonUpgrade::Enabled(PythonUpgradeSource::Install)
+            } else {
+                PythonUpgrade::Disabled
+            },
             bin: flag(bin, no_bin, "bin").or(environment.python_install_bin),
             registry: flag(registry, no_registry, "registry")
                 .or(environment.python_install_registry),

crates/uv/tests/it/help.rs

@@ -557,6 +557,18 @@ fn help_subsubcommand() {
               
               Implies `--reinstall`.
 
+      -U, --upgrade
+              Upgrade existing Python installations to the latest patch version.
+              
+              By default, uv will not upgrade already-installed Python versions to newer patch releases.
+              With `--upgrade`, uv will upgrade to the latest available patch version for the specified
+              minor version(s).
+              
+              If the requested versions are not yet installed, uv will install them.
+              
+              This option is only supported for minor version requests, e.g., `3.12`; uv will exit with
+              an error if a patch version, e.g., `3.12.2`, is requested.
+
           --default
               Use as the default Python version.
               
@@ -819,6 +831,8 @@ fn help_flag_subsubcommand() {
               Reinstall the requested Python version, if it's already installed
       -f, --force
               Replace existing Python executables during installation
+      -U, --upgrade
+              Upgrade existing Python installations to the latest patch version
           --default
               Use as the default Python version
 

crates/uv/tests/it/python_install.rs

@@ -1379,7 +1379,8 @@ fn python_install_debug_freethreaded() {
     let context: TestContext = TestContext::new_with_versions(&[])
         .with_filtered_python_keys()
         .with_filtered_exe_suffix()
-        .with_managed_python_dirs();
+        .with_managed_python_dirs()
+        .with_python_download_cache();
 
     // Install the latest version
     uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--preview").arg("3.13td"), @r"
@@ -2748,6 +2749,7 @@ fn python_install_emulated_macos() {
     if !arch_status.is_ok_and(|x| x.success()) {
         // Rosetta is not available to run the x86_64 interpreter
         // fail the test in CI, otherwise skip it
+        #[allow(clippy::manual_assert)]
         if env::var("CI").is_ok() {
             panic!("x86_64 emulation is not available on this CI runner");
         }
@@ -3774,3 +3776,177 @@ fn python_install_build_version_pypy() {
     error: No download found for request: pypy-3.10-[PLATFORM]
     ");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn python_install_upgrade() {
+    let context: TestContext = TestContext::new_with_versions(&[])
+        .with_python_download_cache()
+        .with_filtered_python_keys()
+        .with_filtered_exe_suffix()
+        .with_managed_python_dirs();
+
+    // Provide `--upgrade` as an `install` option without any versions
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Installed Python 3.14.0 in [TIME]
+     + cpython-3.14.0-[PLATFORM] (python3.14)
+    ");
+
+    // Provide `--upgrade` as an `install` option without any versions again!
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    The default Python installation is already on the latest supported patch release. Use `uv python install <request>` to install another version.
+    ");
+
+    // Install an earlier patch version
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("3.10.17"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Installed Python 3.10.17 in [TIME]
+     + cpython-3.10.17-[PLATFORM] (python3.10)
+    ");
+
+    // Ask for an `--upgrade`
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade").arg("3.10"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Installed Python 3.10.19 in [TIME]
+     + cpython-3.10.19-[PLATFORM] (python3.10)
+    ");
+
+    // Request a patch version with `--upgrade`
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade").arg("3.11.4"), @r"
+    success: false
+    exit_code: 1
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    error: `uv python install --upgrade` only accepts minor versions, got: 3.11.4
+    ");
+
+    // Request a version that isn't installed yet
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade").arg("3.11"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Installed Python 3.11.14 in [TIME]
+     + cpython-3.11.14-[PLATFORM] (python3.11)
+    ");
+
+    // Ask for it again
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade").arg("3.11"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Python 3.11 is already on the latest supported patch release
+    ");
+
+    // Install an outdated version
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("3.9.5"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Installed Python 3.9.5 in [TIME]
+     + cpython-3.9.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.9)
+    ");
+
+    // We shouldn't update it when not relevant
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade").arg("3.11"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Python 3.11 is already on the latest supported patch release
+    ");
+
+    // Ask for multiple already satisfied versions
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade").arg("3.10").arg("3.11"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    All requested versions already on latest supported patch release
+    ");
+
+    // Mix in an unsatisfied version and a missing one
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade").arg("3.9").arg("3.10").arg("3.11").arg("3.12"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Installed 2 versions in [TIME]
+     + cpython-3.9.25-[PLATFORM] (python3.9)
+     + cpython-3.12.12-[PLATFORM] (python3.12)
+    ");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn python_install_upgrade_version_file() {
+    let context: TestContext = TestContext::new_with_versions(&[])
+        .with_python_download_cache()
+        .with_filtered_python_keys()
+        .with_filtered_exe_suffix()
+        .with_managed_python_dirs();
+
+    // Pin to a minor version
+    context.python_pin().arg("3.13").assert().success();
+
+    // Provide `--upgrade` as an `install` option without any versions
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Installed Python 3.13.9 in [TIME]
+     + cpython-3.13.9-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
+    ");
+
+    // Provide `--upgrade` as an `install` option without any versions again!
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade"), @r"
+    success: true
+    exit_code: 0
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    Python 3.13 is already on the latest supported patch release
+    ");
+
+    // Pin to a patch version
+    context.python_pin().arg("3.12.4").assert().success();
+
+    // Provide `--upgrade` as an `install` option without any versions
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("--upgrade"), @r"
+    success: false
+    exit_code: 1
+    ----- stdout -----
+
+    ----- stderr -----
+    error: `uv python install --upgrade` only accepts minor versions, got: 3.12.4
+
+    hint: The version request came from a `.python-version` file; change the patch version in the file to upgrade instead
+    ");
+}

docs/reference/cli.md

@@ -3525,6 +3525,10 @@ uv python install [OPTIONS] [TARGETS]...
 <p>Repeating this option, e.g., <code>-qq</code>, will enable a silent mode in which uv will write no output to stdout.</p>
 </dd><dt id="uv-python-install--reinstall"><a href="#uv-python-install--reinstall"><code>--reinstall</code></a>, <code>-r</code></dt><dd><p>Reinstall the requested Python version, if it's already installed.</p>
 <p>By default, uv will exit successfully if the version is already installed.</p>
+</dd><dt id="uv-python-install--upgrade"><a href="#uv-python-install--upgrade"><code>--upgrade</code></a>, <code>-U</code></dt><dd><p>Upgrade existing Python installations to the latest patch version.</p>
+<p>By default, uv will not upgrade already-installed Python versions to newer patch releases. With <code>--upgrade</code>, uv will upgrade to the latest available patch version for the specified minor version(s).</p>
+<p>If the requested versions are not yet installed, uv will install them.</p>
+<p>This option is only supported for minor version requests, e.g., <code>3.12</code>; uv will exit with an error if a patch version, e.g., <code>3.12.2</code>, is requested.</p>
 </dd><dt id="uv-python-install--verbose"><a href="#uv-python-install--verbose"><code>--verbose</code></a>, <code>-v</code></dt><dd><p>Use verbose output.</p>
 <p>You can configure fine-grained logging using the <code>RUST_LOG</code> environment variable. (<a href="https://docs.rs/tracing-subscriber/latest/tracing_subscriber/filter/struct.EnvFilter.html#directives">https://docs.rs/tracing-subscriber/latest/tracing_subscriber/filter/struct.EnvFilter.html#directives</a>)</p>
 </dd></dl>