ImportError: cannot import name 'html5lib' from pip._vendor

# ImportError: cannot import name 'html5lib' from pip._vendor

The "ImportError: cannot import name 'html5lib' from 'pip._vendor'" occurs when we have an outdated version of pip, most commonly on Ubuntu machines that use Python v3.10.

To solve the error, upgrade your version of pip.

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File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/pip/_internal/index/collector.py", line 12, in <module>
    from pip._vendor import html5lib, requests
ImportError: cannot import name 'html5lib' from 'pip._vendor' (/usr/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/pip/_vendor/__init__.py)

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curl -sS https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | python3.10
curl -sS https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | sudo python3.10

curl -sS https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | python3
curl -sS https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | sudo python3

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

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python --version

python3 --version

# Using ensurepip

If that didn't help, try running the following commands to install pip.

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# 👇️ On Linux or MacOS
python -m ensurepip --upgrade

# 👇️ Using python 3
python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade

# 👇️ On Windows
py -m ensurepip --upgrade

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

If the PATH for pip is not set up on your machine, replace pip with python3 -m pip:

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# 👇️ Make sure to use your version of Python, e.g. 3.10
python3 -m pip install requests

python3.10 -m pip install requests

# Using the official get-pip script

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

Download the script from https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py by clicking on the link, right-clicking and selecting "Save as" in your browser.

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# 👇️ On Linux or MacOS
python get-pip.py

# 👇️ Using python 3
python3 get-pip.py

# 👇️ On Windows
py get-pip.py

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

# Installing pip with an os-specific command

If none of the suggestions helped, try to install pip with a command that's specific to your operating system.

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# 👇️ On Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-venv python3-pip

# 👇️ On MacOS
brew install python

# 👇️ On Fedora/CentOS
sudo dnf install python3-pip python3-wheel

Try upgrading pip by running:

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# 👇️ On MacOS or Linux
python -m pip install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ On Windows
py -m pip install --upgrade pip

First, locate Python by running the following command using cmd:

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# 👇️ For Windows
where python

# 👇️ Or a specific version if you have multiple installed
where python3

Now open the Scripts folder and make sure it contains the pip.exe file.

Open your command prompt in the Scripts directory right next to the pip.exe file and run the following command.

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pip install pip

py -m pip install --upgrade pip

If the error persists, try creating a virtual environment.

# Try creating a virtual environment

Another thing that might help is to create a virtual environment if you don't already have one.

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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 <package-name> in your virtual environment
pip install <package-name>

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 activation command depending on your operating system.

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

If the error persists, follow the instructions in my ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pip' article.