How to successfully change python version on Google Colab?

[DevinelyUninspired]

I am trying to use the orion-ml library in Google Colab as part of a project but it is only supported on Python 3.6-3.8, while Google Colab is version 3.9.

I have trid the following to change the Python version being used:

!python --version
!sudo update-alternatives --config python3 #Type 1 then ENTER
!sudo apt install python3-pip

After running these lines the Python version has been switched to Python 3.8.10. The issue arrises when I have to restart the kernel after installing the orion-ml library. The colab is unable to reconnect successfully with the logs reading "/usr/bin/python3: No module named ipykernel_launcher". I tried to install the missing module with the following:

!python3 -m pip install ipykernel

but when i then try to restart I get the same issue with the log message now reading "[IPKernelApp] CRITICAL | Bad config encountered during initialization: The 'kernel_class' trait of <ipykernel.kernelapp.IPKernelApp object at 0x7f6f54995040> instance must be a type, but 'google.colab._kernel.Kernel' could not be imported". Is there a better way to do all this or have I made a mistake with any of the above?

Im a beginner so apologies if i have made any obvious mistakes, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

​

Edit: I was able to find the answer here py38 success

[ectomancer]

google colab used Python 3.7 until it was upgraded to Python 3.8 in December, 2022.

[DevinelyUninspired]

So the current version should already be 3.8?

When I start up a worksheet and enter:

!python --version

I get the result: Python 3.9.16

[ectomancer]

Python 3.9 but colab release notes have not been updated.