# How to use the new version of TensorFlow optimized for Apple Silicon M1 on Slicer

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-use-the-new-version-of-tensorflow-optimized-for-apple-silicon-m1-on-slicer/19368>\
**Category:** Support\
**Tags:** python\
**Created:** [August 26, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-use-the-new-version-of-tensorflow-optimized-for-apple-silicon-m1-on-slicer/19368 "2021-08-26T15:20:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Robb)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-use-the-new-version-of-tensorflow-optimized-for-apple-silicon-m1-on-slicer/19368/1 "2021-08-26T15:20:57Z")

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Now I have a Macbook Pro with Apple M1, and Operating System is MacOS Big Sur. I found that if I want to use TensorFlow on this Macbook Pro, I need a new version of TensorFlow specifically optimized for the M1 chip, and the download link is [GitHub - apple/tensorflow\_macos: TensorFlow for macOS 11.0+ accelerated using Apple's ML Compu](https://github.com/apple/tensorflow_macos)  
However, the Mac-optimized TensorFlow requires Python 3.8 or higher version, and the latest version of Slicer’s Python version is only 3.6.7. Thus the problem of mismatch between them arises. I can’t import tensorflow in Slicer now.  
I wonder if there is a solution to this problem. Or has anyone successfully configured TensorFlow for Slicer on an M1 Macbook before?  
Looking forward to some guidance! Thank you very much!

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**Author:** ![pieper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/pieper/32/8_2.png) [@pieper](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/pieper)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-use-the-new-version-of-tensorflow-optimized-for-apple-silicon-m1-on-slicer/19368/2 "2021-08-26T15:30:12Z")

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That looks cool, but it’s all new. You can try building Slicer with python 3.8 and maybe you can contribute fixes to the the items in the issue linked below.

> <https://github.com/Slicer/Slicer/issues/5014>
>
> This was initially discussed in https://github.com/Slicer/Slicer/issues/4859
> 
> …The following PR would need to be finalized:
> 
> \* python-cmake-buildsystem/python-cmake-buildsystem#264
> \* python-cmake-buildsystem/python-cmake-buildsystem#267