Could not build wheels for X which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

# Could not build wheels for X which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

To solve the error "Could not build wheels for X which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly", run the pip install --upgrade pip command to upgrade your pip version and rerun the pip install <package-name> command.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for <package-name>
Failed to build pycairo
ERROR: Could not build wheels for <package-name> which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly
ERROR: Could not build wheels for <package-name>, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

could-not-build-wheels-for-which-is-required-to-install-pyproject-toml

Another common name for the same error is: "ERROR: Could not build wheels for package-name, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects".

The solution for the two errors is the same.

The most common cause of the error is having an outdated version of pip.

# Upgrade your version of `pip` before installing the package

Here are the commands for upgrading pip on all operating systems.

Which command works depends on your operating system and your version of Python.

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# 👇️ If you have pip already installed
pip install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ If your pip is aliased as pip3 (Python 3)
pip3 install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ If you have easy_install
easy_install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo easy_install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error when upgrading pip
pip install --upgrade pip --user

# 👇️ Upgrade pip scoped to the current user (if you get a permissions error)
python -m pip install --user --upgrade pip
python3 -m pip install --user --upgrade pip

# 👇️ Installing directly from get-pip.py (MacOS and Linux)
curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | python

# 👇️ If you get permissions issues
curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | sudo python

# 👇️ Alternative for Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade python-pip

# 👇️ Alternative for Red Hat / CentOS / Fedora
sudo yum install epel-release
sudo yum install python-pip
sudo yum update python-pip

upgrade pip version

Now that pip is upgraded, try to run the pip install <package-name> command.

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pip install requests
pip3 install requests

python -m pip install requests
python3 -m pip install requests

install module after upgrading

Make sure to replace requests with the actual name of the package you're trying to install.

# Upgrade `setuptools` and `wheel`

If the error is not resolved, upgrade the setuptools and wheel packages as well.

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pip install --upgrade setuptools wheel

pip3 install --upgrade setuptools wheel

python3 -m pip install --upgrade setuptools wheel

upgrade setuptools and wheel

Try to rerun the pip install command after upgrading setuptools and wheel.

If that didn't help, try to run the pip install command with the --upgrade option.

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pip install requests --upgrade
pip3 install requests --upgrade

python -m pip install requests --upgrade
python3 -m pip install requests --upgrade

If the error is not resolved, try installing the package with the --no-cache-dir option to disable the cache.

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pip install requests --no-cache-dir
pip3 install requests --no-cache-dir

If that didn't help, use the --pre option to include pre-release and development versions of the package.

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pip install requests --pre
pip3 install requests --pre

python -m pip install requests --pre
python3 -m pip install requests --pre

The --pre option makes it so pip includes pre-release and development versions of the package. By default pip only finds stable versions.

This sometimes helps because a pre-release version of the package might have a wheel available for your version of Python.

If the error is not resolved, try running the pip install command with the --no-use-pep517 option.

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pip install --no-use-pep517 requests
pip3 install --no-use-pep517 requests

python -m pip install --no-use-pep517 requests
python3 -m pip install --no-use-pep517 requests

If that didn't help, try installing another version of the package.

You can check the available versions of a package by running the pip install package== command.

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pip install requests==

pip list all available versions of package

The output contains a tuple of all of the versions of the package from the oldest to the most recent version.

Pick another version of the package and try installing it. Here is an example.

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pip install requests==2.28.0
pip3 install requests==2.28.0

# Create a virtual environment

If that didn't help, try creating a virtual environment.

Create a virtual environment.
Activate the virtual environment.
Run the pip install command with the virtual environment active.

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# 👇️ Use the correct version of Python when creating VENV
python3 -m venv venv

# 👇️ Activate on Unix or MacOS
source venv/bin/activate

# 👇️ Activate on Windows (cmd.exe)
venv\Scripts\activate.bat

# 👇️ Activate on Windows (PowerShell)
venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

# 👇️ Upgrade pip
pip install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ Install the specific package in the virtual environment
pip install requests

If the python3 -m venv venv command doesn't work, try the following 2 commands:

python -m venv venv
py -m venv venv

Make sure to use the correct command to activate your virtual environment depending on your operating system and your shell.

Your virtual environment will use the version of Python that was used to create it.

# Try running pip install in verbose mode

If none of the suggestions helped, try running the pip install command in verbose mode.

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pip install requests -vvv

pip3 install requests -vvv

python -m pip install requests -vvv

The -v option stands for verbose mode and can be used up to 3 times.

When the pip install command is run in verbose mode, the command shows more output and how the error occurred.

# Check if your Python version is supported by the package

The error is sometimes caused when the package you are trying to install doesn't have available wheels for your version of Python.

You can check your Python version with the python --version command.

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python --version

get python version

You can check if a package has wheels available for a specific Python version in the Download files section of the package's pypi page.

For example, cp310 in the name of a file under "Built Distributions" means Python version 3.10 is supported for the specific operating system.

If the .whl files are not available for your version of Python, you can download an older version.

You can download a specific Python version that is supported by the package if the package doesn't support the latest Python version.

Different versions are available in the "Looking for a specific release" table.

install specific python version

Make sure to tick the following options if you get prompted:

Install launcher for all users (recommended)
Add Python to PATH (this adds Python to your PATH environment variable)

# Some packages have prerequisites

Some packages require you to have certain applications installed before you are able to pip install the package.

Here are some examples.

# Table of Contents

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for python-ldap in Python

The following error occurs when you install python-ldap without having the prerequisites installed.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for python-ldap
Failed to build python-ldap
ERROR: Could not build wheels for python-ldap, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

error could not build wheels for python ldap

Installing the prerequisites for python-ldap.

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# 👇️ Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install build-essential python3-dev \
    libldap2-dev libsasl2-dev slapd ldap-utils tox \
    lcov valgrind

# 👇️ RedHat/CentOS
yum groupinstall "Development tools"
yum install openldap-devel python-devel

# 👇️ Fedora
dnf install "@C Development Tools and Libraries" openldap-devel \
    python3-devel python3-tox \
    lcov clang-analyzer valgrind

# 👇️ Alpine
apk add build-base openldap-dev python3-dev

You have to run the pip install python-ldap command after installing the prerequisites.

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pip install python-ldap
pip3 install python-ldap

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for pyaudio in Python

The following error occurs when you install PyAudio without having the prerequisites installed.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for pyaudio
Failed to build pyaudio
ERROR: Could not build wheels for pyaudio, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

python error could not build wheels for pyaudio

First, if you are on Linux, make sure you have all the requirements of pyaudio.

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sudo apt install build-essential portaudio19-dev python3.10-dev
pip install pyaudio

portaudio is a prerequisite of pyaudio, so if portaudio is missing, the error is raised.

If you are on macOS, try using brew to install the package.

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brew install portaudio
brew link --overwrite portaudio
pip install pyaudio

If you are on macOS, you also have to install portaudio before installing pyaudio.

You can read more about the prerequisite in the pypi page of pyaudio.

If you are on Windows, the python -m pip install pyaudio command installs the precompiled PyAudio library with PortAudio included.

If you use anaconda, try using conda.

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conda install -c anaconda pyaudio

After you have the prerequisites installed, run the installation command.

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pip install PyAudio
pip3 install PyAudio

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for pycocotools in Python

The following error occurs when you install pycocotools without having the prerequisites installed.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for pycocotools
Failed to build pycocotools
ERROR: Could not build wheels for pycocotools, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

error could not build wheels for pycocotools

If you use anaconda, the first thing you should try is to run the following two commands.

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conda install -c conda-forge pycocotools

conda install -c esri pycocotools

If you use Windows, install the pycocotools-windows package instead.

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pip install pycocotools-windows
pip3 install pycocotools-windows

python -m pip install pycocotools-windows
python3 -m pip install pycocotools-windows

# Error: Could not build wheels for cx_Oracle in Python

The following error occurs when you install pycocotools without having the prerequisites installed.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for cx_Oracle
Failed to build cx_Oracle
ERROR: Could not build wheels for cx_Oracle, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

error could not build wheels for cx oracle

First, make sure to install gcc and python3-dev if you are on Linux.

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# 👇️ For Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install gcc python3-dev

# 👇️ For RedHad / CentOS
sudo yum install gcc python3-devel

After you install the prerequisites, run the following command to install cx-Oracle.

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pip install cx-Oracle --upgrade
pip3 install cx-Oracle --upgrade

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for scikit-learn in Python

The following error occurs when installing scikit-learn.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for scikit-learn
Failed to build scikit-learn
ERROR: Could not build wheels for scikit-learn, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

If you use anaconda, try installing the package using conda.

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conda install -c anaconda scikit-learn
conda install -c conda-forge scikit-learn

pip install scikit-learn
pip3 install scikit-learn

# Could not build wheels for opencv-python which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

The following error occurs when installing opencv-python.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for opencv-python
Failed to build opencv-python
ERROR: Could not build wheels for opencv-python which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

After you update your version of pip, run the following command.

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pip install opencv-python
pip3 install opencv-python


python -m pip install opencv-python
python3 -m pip install opencv-python

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge opencv

# 👇️ Alternative for Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install python-opencv

# Error: Could not build wheels for numpy in Python

The following error occurs when installing numpy.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for numpy
Failed to build numpy
ERROR: Could not build wheels for numpy which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

After you update your version of pip, run the following command.

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pip install numpy
pip3 install numpy

python -m pip install numpy
python3 -m pip install numpy

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda numpy

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for cryptography which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

The following error occurs when installing cryptography.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for cryptography
Running setup.py clean for cryptography
Failed to build cryptography
ERROR: Could not build wheels for cryptography which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

After you update your version of pip, run the following command.

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pip install cryptography
pip3 install cryptography


python -m pip install cryptography
python3 -m pip install cryptography

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda cryptography

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for psutil in Python

The following error occurs when installing psutil.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for psutil
Failed to build psutil
ERROR: Could not build wheels for psutil, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

error could not build wheels for psutil

After you update your version of pip, run the following command.

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pip install psutil
pip3 install psutil

python -m pip install psutil
python3 -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge psutil

As the installation page of psutil notes, pre-compiled wheels are available for Linux, Windows and macOS, so you don't have to install a C compiler.

Running the pip install psutil command should be sufficient.

If that doesn't work, try installing from sources if you are on Linux.

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# 👇️ For Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install gcc python3-dev
pip install --no-binary :all: psutil

# 👇️ For RedHad / CentOS
sudo yum install gcc python3-devel
pip install --no-binary :all: psutil

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for gevent in Python

The following error occurs when installing gevent.

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Failed to build gevent
ERROR: Could not build wheels for gevent, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

First, make sure to install the prerequisites.

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# 👇️ For Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install python3.10-dev linux-headers-virtual make gcc libtool

# 👇️ For Fedora
yum install python3-devel gcc kernel-devel kernel-headers make diffutils file

# 👇️ For Alpine Linux
apk add --virtual build-deps file make gcc musl-dev libffi-dev

You can read more about the prerequisites in the installation section of gevent's pypi page.

After you update your version of pip, use the following command to install gevent.

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pip install gevent
pip3 install gevent

python -m pip install gevent
python3 -m pip install gevent

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda gevent

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for pycairo in Python

The following error occurs when installing pycairo.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for pycairo
Failed to build pycairo
ERROR: Could not build wheels for pycairo, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

error could not build wheels for pycairo

The first thing you should try is to install the dependencies.

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sudo apt install libcairo2-dev libcairo2 pkg-config sox ffmpeg
pip install pycairo

# 👇️ If you use manim animation engine
pip install manimlib
pip install manimce

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install pycairo.

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pip install pycairo
pip3 install pycairo


python -m pip install pycairo
python3 -m pip install pycairo

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for pycuda in Python

The following error occurs when installing pycuda.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for pycuda
Failed to build pycuda
ERROR: Could not build wheels for pycuda, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

error could not build wheels for pycuda

First, if you are on Linux, install the prerequisites.

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# 👇️ Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install python3-dev

# 👇️ CentOS, RHEL
sudo yum install python3-devel

# 👇️ Fedora
sudo dnf install python3-devel

# 👇️ openSUSE
sudo zypper in python3-devel

# 👇️ Alpine
sudo apk add python3-dev

# 👇️ Cygwin
apt-cyg install python3-devel

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install pycuda.

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pip install pycuda
pip3 install pycuda

python -m pip install pycuda
python3 -m pip install pycuda

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge pycuda

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for tokenizers in Python

The following error occurs when installing tokenizers.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for tokenizers
Failed to build tokenizers
ERROR: Could not build wheels for tokenizers, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

First, make sure you have a Rust compiler installed.

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curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
export PATH="$HOME/.cargo/bin:$PATH"
source $HOME/.cargo/env
pip install tokenizers

You can read more about the prerequisites in the pypi page of tokenizers.

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install tokenizers.

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pip install tokenizers
pip3 install tokenizers

python -m pip install tokenizers
python3 -m pip install tokenizers

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge tokenizers

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for yarl, multidict in Python

The following error occurs when installing discord.py.

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for multidict
Failed to build yarl multidict
ERROR: Could not build wheels for yarl, multidict which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

Note that the discord.py module requires Python v3.8+.

After updating your version of pip, run the following command to install discord.py.

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pip install discord.py
pip3 install discord.py

python -m pip install discord.py
python3 -m pip install discord.py

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge discord.py

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for xmlsec in Python

The following error occurs when installing xmlsec in Python.

shell

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for xmlsec
Failed to build xmlsec
ERROR: Could not build wheels for xmlsec, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

error could not build wheels for xmlsec

First, install the prerequisites for your operating system.

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# 👇️ for macOS
brew install libxml2 libxmlsec1 pkg-config

# 👇️ for Windows
pip install xmlsec --no-binary=xmlsec

# 👇️ for Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install pkg-config libxml2-dev libxmlsec1 libxmlsec1-dev libxmlsec1-openssl

# 👇️ for CentOS
yum install libxml2-devel xmlsec1-devel xmlsec1-openssl-devel libtool-ltdl-devel

# 👇️ for Fedora
dnf install libxml2-devel xmlsec1-devel xmlsec1-openssl-devel libtool-ltdl-devel

# 👇️ for Alpine
apk add build-base libressl libffi-dev libressl-dev libxslt-dev libxml2-dev xmlsec-dev xmlsec

These are packages that xmlsec depends on that are not included in the module.

You can read more about the prerequisites in the pypi page of xmlsec.

If you are on Windows, running the pip install xmlsec --no-binary=xmlsec command should be sufficient.

After updating your version of pip, run the following command to install xmlsec.

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pip install xmlsec
pip3 install xmlsec

python -m pip install xmlsec
python3 -m pip install xmlsec

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge xmlsec

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for bcrypt in Python

The following error occurs when installing bcrypt in Python.

shell

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for bcrypt
ERROR: Could not build wheels for bcrypt which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

First, if you are on Linux, make sure to install the prerequisites.

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# 👇️ for Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install build-essential cargo

# 👇️ for Fedora and RHEL-derivatives
sudo yum install gcc cargo

# 👇️ for Alpine
apk add --update musl-dev gcc cargo

You can read more about the prerequisites in the pypi page of bcrypt.

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install bcrypt.

shell

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pip install bcrypt
pip3 install bcrypt

python -m pip install bcrypt
python3 -m pip install bcrypt

# 👇️ using Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda bcrypt

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for hdbscan in Python

The following error occurs when installing hdbscan in Python.

shell

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for hdbscan
ERROR: Could not build wheels for hdbscan which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

error could not build wheels for hdbscan

If you use anaconda, try installing the package with the following command.

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conda install -c conda-forge hdbscan

You should also install the python3.X-dev package because packages that compile C Python modules during installation require the python-dev package.

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sudo apt-get install python3.10-dev

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install hdbscan.

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pip install hdbscan --upgrade
pip3 install hdbscan --upgrade

python -m pip install hdbscan --upgrade
python3 -m pip install hdbscan --upgrade

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for PyNaCl in Python

The following error occurs when installing PyNaCl in Python.

shell

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for PyNaCl
ERROR: Could not build wheels for PyNaCl which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install PyNaCl.

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pip install PyNaCl
pip3 install PyNaCl

python -m pip install PyNaCl
python3 -m pip install PyNaCl

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge pynacl

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for onnx in Python

The following error occurs when installing onnx in Python.

shell

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for onnx
Failed to build onnx
ERROR: Could not build wheels for onnx, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

First, if you are on Linux, install the prerequisites.

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sudo apt-get install python3-pip python3-dev libprotobuf-dev protobuf-compiler

If you use Anaconda, you can also try installing the package using conda-forge.

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conda install -c conda-forge numpy protobuf libprotobuf
conda install -c conda-forge onnx

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install onnx.

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pip install numpy protobuf
pip install onnx

pip3 install numpy protobuf
pip3 install onnx

python -m pip install numpy protobuf
python -m pip install onnx

python3 -m pip install numpy protobuf
python3 -m pip install onnx

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge numpy protobuf libprotobuf
conda install -c conda-forge onnx

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for spacy in Python

The following error occurs when installing spacy in Python.

shell

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for spacy
Failed to build spacy
ERROR: Could not build wheels for spacy, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

First, if you are on Linux, install the prerequisites.

shell

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sudo apt-get install build-essential python-dev git

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install spacy.

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# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install -U spacy
python -m spacy download en_core_web_sm

# 👇️ For python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
pip3 install -U spacy
python -m spacy download en_core_web_sm

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install -U spacy
python -m spacy download en_core_web_sm

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install -U spacy
python -m spacy download en_core_web_sm

# 👇️ For python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
python3 -m pip install -U spacy
python3 -m spacy download en_core_web_sm

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge spacy
python -m spacy download en_core_web_sm

# ERROR: Could not build wheels for sip in Python

The following error occurs when installing sip in Python.

shell

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for sip
Failed to build sip
ERROR: Could not build wheels for sip, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install sip.

shell

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pip install sip
pip3 install sip

python -m pip install sip
python3 -m pip install sip

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda sip

# Could not build wheels for scipy which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

The following error occurs when installing scipy in Python.

shell

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ERROR: Failed building wheel for scipy
ERROR: Could not build wheels for scipy which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly

After updating your version of pip, use the following command to install scipy.

shell

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pip install scipy
pip3 install scipy

python -m pip install scipy
python3 -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ alternative for Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install python3-scipy

# 👇️ Alternative for Fedora
sudo dnf install python3-scipy

# 👇️ Alternative for macOS
brew install scipy

Could not build wheels for X which use PEP 517 and cannot be installed directly