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IDLE and PyCharm are using different versions of python, despite the python.exe PyCharm is using being installed in the same directory

I cloned a python environment and recreated it on a new machine using Anaconda Navigator with a yml file. My script runs fine in the new environment using PyCharm. The python version of this environment is 3.9.0. However the script doesn't run with IDLE because IDLE is running version 3.11.0.
IDLE is located at:
C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\envs\CloneETL3\Lib\idlelib\idle.pat
The python interpreter which PyCharm uses is located at
C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\envs\CloneETL3\python.exe
How can IDLE have a different version from the python interpreter when they were just installed fresh? How can I prevent multiple versions of python from running on my machine? I made sure to create a new project in PyCharm, use an existing interpreter using conda and point it to the exe I described above.
The environment was first created from a clone of my ArcGIS Pro environment.
Thanks for the help!

This is quite common in most editors. I use vscode which is similar to pycharm and the user can select the version of python (or other languages) that they wish to run.
It look like this:
The reason for this is that some users have the requirement of being compatible with previous versions. You should be able to select the latest version of each.
Alternatively you can delete all versions leaving only the one version that you desire, this would avoid confusion...
You could refer to this answer for that option: How to completely remove Python from a Windows machine?

Python3 seems not to be recognized in VSCode

I had Python version 2.7.17 already installed on my machine. Recently I started coding in Python and I installed VS Code to make things easier. However once I opened VSCode and ran a simple Python Hello World program, VSCode terminal gave a warning saying that
Python 2 support has ended at January 1, 2020
which means the support has already ended and suggested to install the latest Python version. So I heeded the warning and installed Python 3.8.5 on my Windows machine. The installation was completed without any issue. Afterward, when I tried the command python --version on VSCode terminal, it correctly gave the output python 2.7.17. However, when I tried the command python3 --version to check if it was correctly installed, the terminal gave no output.
Since I am a beginner and the support for Python 2 has already ended, I would like to work with Python3 from now on. However, I don't mind Python 2 staying in the machine.
Is this something should I worry about? Or should I uninstall Python 2 completely (When I checked Control Panel both versions are list under currently installed programs)?

According to your description, you can change pythonpath in vscode and still keep python2.
I assume you are using windows system and if not, please let me know. The following is the solution:
open cmd and type: where python. There should be two path, copy it which is about python3.8.5;
press Ctrl+, to open setting.json and add an entry for python.pythonPath manually inside your User Settings:
Now you can press Ctrl+Shift+P and find the option select interpreter. Click it you'll find a interpreter list. After selecting new interpreter, it is necessary to press Ctrl+Shift+` to open a new terminal for further development.
About more detailed information about pythonpath and interpreter you can refer to using python environments in vscode.

The version of Python used depends on your environment, and PATH variable.
I think you need to select the correct Python interpreter. At the bottom of your screen, there should be something that says the Python version number. If you click it, you can get a menu to select the interpreter.
Alternatively, you can hit control-shift-p, type "python interpreter", then click "select python interpreter" option.
Finally, you can alter the default Python interpreter used by changing the User settings in VS Code. Hit control-shift-p, type "open settings", and select Open Settings (JSON). Add a key to the JSON file called "python.pythonPath", so that you have a line that looks something like this:
"python.pythonPath": "full/path/to/the/python/executable/you/want/python.exe",
You might be able to get a hint as to the path to use or available isntallations of python if you type where python or which python (depending on terminal/ OS in use).
Then you can save those settings. Restart VS Code. Hopefully now the correct interpreter is selected by default.

PyCharm doesn't detect interpreter

I'm new to programming and just started a course on Python. I want to use PyCharm, so I downloaded and intalled it (v. 4.5, community edition). I had previously installed Python 3.5 64-bit from python.org (I'm using Windows 10).
To start using PyCharm, I need a project interpreter, which I can select in the settings. As far as I'm concerned, the interpreter is "py.exe", but when I select it, I get this error message: "The selected file is not a valid home for Python SDK". I also tried to use every file whose name contained "python" or "py", and failed.
On every website and video I see, they select a file called "python.exe", but they're using Python 3.4 or a previous version. I checked that PyCharm supports 3.5 ("Initial support for Python 3.5").
Is there anything I'm doing wrong? What should I do to be able to use PyCharm?
All replies are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

file > new project settings > project Interpreter > click in the drop down and select 'show all' > click the '+' button >
Now, in the Virtualenv Environment tab under the New environment radio button, check the path in the 'Base interpreter:' field. For me, mine was set to an invalid path. Once I had corrected the path to point to python.exe I recreated my new project and PyCharm built the virtualenv.
For me there was a bit more too.... When creating the new project I expanded the drop down and had to verify the directory where the venv directory was being created. Once I had corrected the path here I had to click around a bit to get it to let me create the project.
I'm going to chaulk this up to a bug. I'm using Community edition.

When creating a project in PyCharm, if the interpret is not already selected, in the drop down menu under the projects "Location:", you can click the gear-looking icon to the right of the interpreter option, and click "Add Local"; then select the file location of the python.exe file that you have installed. It will probably be C:\Python35\Python.exe

I faced a Similar issue and was not able to find Python interpreter anywhere on the system.
The problem with it was that python was installed directly with default settings and there was no exe found in
C:\Python35\
and to solve this i tried uninstalling and reinstalling with custom settings and selecting allow for all users as well which did the trick and path was set correctly to
C:\Python35\python.exe.
After whichPycharm was able to detect the interpreter on this path.

PyCharm project interpreter problem Resolved
I installed anaconda python distribution (Anaconda3-5.0.1-Windows-x86_64.exe) from the anaconda website. https://anaconda.org/anaconda/python
What it actually did was it re-installed my Python3.6.3 (pertinent to mention I have windows10, with pyCharm community & python 3.5 already but with the interpreter problem and while installing anaconda I chose the following settings and disabled my antivirus before my anaconda installation):
selecting allow for all users
installation path was set correctly and (stored safely for future)
restart my Computer after installation.(not essential-but I did)
opened Anaconda & Jet brian pycharm
selected new project in PyCharm screen shot of my New project default Python interpreter location = C:\Users\Skboy\PycharmProjects\dani Interpreter = C:\Users\Skboy\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32\python.exe
Wow! my pyCharm started working for me,
Resolution : Python6.3 re-installation with proper custom setting
make a python test test1.py program file to print "hello python test world"
Run
now my Python Interpreter(automatically -by default select) Python 3.6.3
edit configuration & check for interpreter
(C:\Users\user1\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32\python.exe)
Run
success test Run
worth to mention Anaconda Jupyter is a web based can also be used in case novice user are still having problems

I have had the exact same problem and was unable to find the solution until just now. Hopefully this works for anyone that was struggling with it.
I went to the location of the Python 3.5 (32-Bit) in my C: Drive which it turns out is just a shortcut to the actual Python application, right click on it and select Open file location which should direct you to the application version of python - simply called 'python'. This is the .exe file that PyCharm was looking for to use as the interpreter.
Now go to the configure interpreter menu in Pycharm and type in the file location of the actual python application. To get to mine I had to go to AppData/Local/Programs/Python/Python35-32. Click on the python.exe file and it should work.
This is my first post here so if its formatted incorrectly or doesn't use the conventional terms - sorry. Let me know if the solution worked for anyone else with the problem or if I fluked it.

If you kept the default settings while installing python, Your project interpreter for PyCharm will be:
C:\Users\yourUserName\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\python.exe
Chose the above location as your project interpreter inside PyCharm.
Depending on which python version you have, it could be either Python36\python.exe or Python35\python.exe.

For me the following solution it worked:
My configuration:
Pycharm Community edition 2019.1.1
Anaconda distribution with python 3.7. Interpreter in standard location.
Problem:
Pycharm was not able to find python interpreter after reinstallation of anaconda distribution.
Solution:
- Make sure you run pycharm as admin (right click and run as admin). This was actually the critical step.
- Create new project (or open an existing one)
- Depending on the choice choose interpter or go to file > settings > project interpreter > choose small gear on rights side > add > on base interpreter choose the 3 dots > paste the location of the interpreter in the anaconda distribution.
Hope it helped someone. For me the blocking point was that for some reason pycharm was not launching with admin rights.
Blockquote

Making my IDE take a specific Python version

I have Python 2.7.8 installed and when doing the version check in my command line, it shows that I have Python 2.7.8.
However, when I run PyCharm it's running it on version 2.6. Is there a way for me to get it to make PyCharm take the 2.7.8 version?
Thanks for the help!

By default, PyCharm picks up the Python installed system-wide.
Which Python your project should use is configured under Project Interpreter section of your Project Settings. From there, you can add existing interpreters either locals, or remotes, even create brand-new virtual environments and manage packages inside.

Changing PyScripter to work with different Python Versions

I'm using PyScripter for writing python programs and I can't figure out how to make it work with Python26 on my computer. When I installed ArcGIS, by default it installs Python26. I then installed PyScripter which found that installation and it worked fine. Later, I installed Python27, and subsequently reinstalled PyScripter.Now Pyscripter uses Python27 and I don't know how to change it.
I've looked at the settings under Tools -> PythonPath and they are as follows:
and also Tools -> Configure Tools
I assume I need to change the python path entries, but what do I change them to? My Python26 installation is found in C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.0\Bin.

If you go to the pyScripter folder in the start menu, it will have a version of pyScripter for Python 2.4 to 3.2. Just run the one corresponding to your Python version.

go to the pyscripter shortcut : right click then select Properties,
add the option to the target : --PYTHONXX
wherein XX the Python version.
ex : "C:\Program Files\PyScripter\PyScripter.exe" --PYTHON24
Copy/paste another shortcut and modify the option to another python version.

Easiest way to change the python version in PyScripter is:
Run->Python Version-> Setup Python Versions->Add New Python Version->
Browse to your python exe and select ok.-> Click on Activate Selected Python Version..
Now restart your PyScriptor and your are good to go.