Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using pip

# Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using pip

The Python "Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using pip" occurs for multiple reasons:

1. Not having the path to pip in your user's PATH environment variable.
2. Not having pip installed on your machine.
3. Having a corrupted Python installation.
4. Having an outdated version of pip.

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Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python311\python.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python311\pip.exe"

One way to get around the error is to use the python -m pip command instead of using pip directly.

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python -m pip install requests

py -m pip install requests

python3 -m pip install requests

# Upgrade your version of pip

If that didn't help, try upgrading your version of pip.

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python -m ensurepip --upgrade
python -m pip install --upgrade pip

py -m ensurepip --upgrade
py -m pip install --upgrade pip

python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip

The ensurepip package enables us to bootstrap the pip installer into an existing Python installation or virtual environment.

# Add the path to Python and pip to your user's PATH environment variable

To add the path to Python and pip to your user's PATH environment variable:

1. Click on the Search bar and type "environment variables".
2. Click on "Edit the system environment variables".

3. Click on the "Environment Variables" button.

4. In the "User variables for YOUR_USER" section, select the "Path" variable and click "Edit".

5. Click on "New" and then click "Browse".

6. You can use one of the following commands to check where your Python installation is located.

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python -c "import os, sys; print(os.path.dirname(sys.executable))"

where python

For me, the path is the following.

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C:\Users\YOUR_USER\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310

Note that I have Python 3.10 installed, which is reflected in the PATH.

7. Add the path to Python and then add the path to the Scripts directory that is located in your Python3X folder.

   This is where the executable files are located, including pip.exe.

For me, it is the following path.

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C:\Users\YOUR_USER\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\Scripts

8. Once the two paths are added, confirm the changes by clicking on the "OK" button twice.

9. Close your Command prompt application and reopen it.

You might also have to restart your PC, but that's not always necessary.

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pip --version

pip install numpy

Assuming you restarted Command Prompt, if the error persists, try to use the official installer to set up Python correctly.

# Adding Python and pip to your PATH using the official installer

If you still encounter issues, try to add Python to your PATH using the official installer.

1. Download the installer from the official python.org website.

2. If you have Python already installed, start the installer and click on "Modify".

You can leave the optional features ticked. Note that the pip checkbox is checked.

3. On the "Advanced Options" screen, make sure to tick the "Add Python to environment variables" option.

4. Once the "Add Python to environment variables" checkbox is checked, click "Install".

If that didn't work, your Python installation might be corrupted. You can use the official installer to reinstall Python.

# Reinstall Python using the official installer

1. Start the installer again and click on "Uninstall".

2. Once Python is removed successfully, start the installer again and tick the "Add python.exe to PATH" option.

3. The "Add python.exe to PATH" option won't be checked by default.

4. Once the "Add python.exe to PATH" checkbox is checked, click on "Install Now".

After the installation, Python should be installed and configured properly.

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pip --version

pip install numpy

If the error is not resolved, try to run the following command to install pip.

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python -m ensurepip --upgrade

py -m ensurepip --upgrade

python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade

Alternatively, you can use the official get-pip script to install pip.

Download the script from https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py by:

1. Clicking on the link.
2. Right-clicking and selecting "Save as" in your browser.

Open your shell in the location where the get-pip.py file is downloaded and run the following command.

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python get-pip.py

py get-pip.py

python3 get-pip.py

The get-pip.py script uses bootstrapping logic to install pip.

# Try to install the package from within a Python script

Another thing you can try is to install the package from within a Python script.

Here is an example of installing the requests package from within a Python script named main.py.

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import sys
import subprocess

python = sys.executable
subprocess.check_call(
    [python, '-m', 'pip', 'install', 'requests']
)

You can run the file with python main.py, python3 main.py or py main.py to install the requests module.

# Installing a requirements.txt file from within a Python script

Here is an example that installs a requirements.txt file from within a Python script named main.py.

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import sys
import subprocess

requirements_file = open('requirements.txt', 'r', encoding='utf-8')

packages = requirements_file.read().splitlines()

print(packages)

python = sys.executable

for package in packages:
    subprocess.check_call(
        [python, '-m', 'pip', 'install', package],
    )

The code sample assumes that you have a requirements.txt file located in the same directory as your Python script.

You can run the file with python main.py, python3 main.py or py main.py to install the modules in your requirements.txt file.

# Conclusion

To solve the "Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using pip", make sure:

1. You have the path to Python and pip in your user's PATH environment variable.
2. You have pip and Python installed on your machine.
3. Your pip version is up to date.