Linking a python3 version unlinks all other python3 versions.

[Morac2]

Output of brew config

HOMEBREW_VERSION: 5.0.16-105-g0160cd1
ORIGIN: https://github.com/Homebrew/brew
HEAD: 0160cd1ecae43f0ef16cc481470be9928becb6e0
Last commit: 71 minutes ago
Branch: main
Core tap HEAD: e75633e5e38cfa567f0dcd9c550411f010e5b87e
Core tap last commit: 2 hours ago
Core tap JSON: 09 Mar 15:33 UTC
Core cask tap HEAD: 7413b20c0857622b55b7127f08f047bf352b8bb5
Core cask tap last commit: 2 hours ago
Core cask tap JSON: 09 Mar 15:33 UTC
HOMEBREW_PREFIX: /opt/homebrew
HOMEBREW_CASK_OPTS: []
HOMEBREW_DOWNLOAD_CONCURRENCY: 32
HOMEBREW_FORBID_PACKAGES_FROM_PATHS: set
HOMEBREW_MAKE_JOBS: 16
HOMEBREW_SORBET_RUNTIME: set
Homebrew Ruby: 4.0.1 => /opt/homebrew/Library/Homebrew/vendor/portable-ruby/4.0.1/bin/ruby
CPU: 16-core 64-bit arm_brava
Clang: 17.0.0 build 1700
Git: 2.50.1 => /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/git
Curl: 8.7.1 => /usr/bin/curl
macOS: 26.3.1-arm64
CLT: 26.3.0.0.1.1771626560
Xcode: 26.3
Metal Toolchain: N/A
Rosetta 2: false

Output of brew doctor

Please note that these warnings are just used to help the Homebrew maintainers
with debugging if you file an issue. If everything you use Homebrew for is
working fine: please don't worry or file an issue; just ignore this. Thanks!

Warning: You have unlinked kegs in your Cellar.
Leaving kegs unlinked can lead to build-trouble and cause formulae that depend on
those kegs to fail to run properly once built. Run `brew link` on these:
  python-tk@3.12
  python@3.13
  python@3.12
  python@3.10

Description of issue

Previously if I installed older versions of python and python-tk, Homebrew would link them in the bin directory with the corresponding version number. For example python3.13 would link to ../Cellar/python@3.13/3.13.12_1/bin/python3.13

As of the latest python versions, linking on version removes the links to the other versions. As such it's not possible to run older versions of python without changing links. This problem started within the last week as I ran brew doctor last week and it reported no issues.

For example after installing or upgrading python, the only version linked is 3.14

ls -lrth pyth*
python3 -> ../Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1/bin/python3
python3-config -> ../Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1/bin/python3-config
python3.14 -> ../Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1/bin/python3.14
python3.14-config -> ../Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1/bin/python3.14-config

If I manually link python@3.13, it removes the links to python@3.14

brew link python@3.13

Unlinking /opt/homebrew/Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1... 516 symlinks removed.
Unlinking /opt/homebrew/Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1... 0 symlinks removed.
Linking /opt/homebrew/Cellar/python@3.13/3.13.12_1... 503 symlinks created.

ls -lrth pyth*
lrwxr-xr-x 1 michaelkraft admin 46B Mar 9 11:55 python3.13 -> ../Cellar/python@3.13/3.13.12_1/bin/python3.13
lrwxr-xr-x 1 michaelkraft admin 53B Mar 9 11:55 python3.13-config -> ../Cellar/python@3.13/3.13.12_1/bin/python3.13-config

If I link python it links 3.14 and removes 3.13

brew link python

Unlinking /opt/homebrew/Cellar/python@3.13/3.13.12_1... 503 symlinks removed.
Linking /opt/homebrew/Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1... 516 symlinks created.

python3 -> ../Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1/bin/python3
python3-config -> ../Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1/bin/python3-config
python3.14 -> ../Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1/bin/python3.14
python3.14-config -> ../Cellar/python@3.14/3.14.3_1/bin/python3.14-config

Relevant casks

python

[MikeMcQuaid]

Sorry for the pain. Should be fixed by Homebrew/brew#21700

[Morac2]

Thanks. I can confirm it’s fixed.

[MikeMcQuaid]

@Morac2 Thanks for verifying!