ImportError: cannot import name 'url' from django.conf.urls

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Borislav Hadzhiev

Last updated: Apr 10, 2024
11 min

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# Table of Contents

  1. ImportError: cannot import name 'url' from django.conf.urls
  2. Cannot import name 'force_text' from django.utils.encoding
  3. Cannot import name 'smart_text' from django.utils.encoding
  4. Cannot import name 'ugettext_lazy' from django.utils.translation

Make sure to click on the correct subheading depending on your error message.

# ImportError: cannot import name 'url' from django.conf.urls

The "ImportError: cannot import name 'url' from 'django.conf.urls'" occurs because django.conf.urls.url() has been deprecated and removed in version 4 of Django.

To solve the error, import and use the re_path() method instead.

importerror cannot import name url from django conf urls

shell
ImportError: cannot import name 'url' from 'django.conf.urls' (/home/borislav/Desktop/bobbyhadz_python/venv/lib/python3.11/site-packages/django/conf/urls/__init__.py)

As the release notes state, django.conf.urls.url() has been deprecated starting version 3 and has been removed in version 4 of Django.

django conf urls url is removed

# Change your import statements to use re_path

The first thing you should try is to change your import statements to use the re_path method from django.urls instead.

urls.py
from django.urls import include, re_path

urlpatterns = [
    re_path(r'^$', views.home, name='home'),
    re_path(r'^index/$', views.index, name='index'),
    re_path(r'^bio/(?P<username>\w+)/$', views.bio, name='bio'),
    re_path(r'^blog/', include('blog.urls')),
    # ...
]

You can read more about how the re_path() function works in this section of the docs.

# Alternatively, use the path() function

Alternatively, you can use the path function.

urls.py
from django.urls import include, path

urlpatterns = [
    path('', views.home, name='home'),
    path('index/', views.index, name='main-view'),
    path('bio/<username>/', views.bio, name='bio'),
    path('articles/<slug:title>/', views.article, name='article-detail'),
    path('articles/<slug:title>/<int:section>/', views.section, name='article-section'),
    path('blog/', include('blog.urls')),
    # ...
]

# Aliasing re_path to url in your code

If you're looking for a quick and hacky solution, you can try to alias re_path to url.

urls.py
# ✅ New import (alias re_path as url)
from django.urls import include, re_path as url

If you decide to use this approach, you have to replace all occurrences of the following import statement with the aliased import statement above.

urls.py
# ⛔️ Old import (Django older than v4)
from django.conf.urls import url

You can check which version of Django your project uses with the pip show django command.

shell
pip show django
pip3 show django

python -m pip show django
python3 -m pip show django

verify django version

# Downgrading Django to an older version

If you have other packages in your environment that use the deprecated django.conf.urls.url() function, you can try downgrading Django to version 3.2.16, or the last version prior to version 4.

You can check all of the available versions of Django in this section of the package's pypi page.

shell
pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall
pip3 install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in PATH environment variable
python -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall
python3 -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ py alias (Windows)
py -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

downgrade django version

The --force-reinstall option forces pip to reinstall the package.

You can check which version of Django your project uses with the pip show django command.

shell
pip show django
pip3 show django

python -m pip show django
python3 -m pip show django

verify django 3 is installed

If you use Django version 3, you can import url from django.conf.urls.

main.py
from django.conf.urls import url

If none of the suggestions helped and the error isn't caused in your code by importing the deprecated django.conf.urls.url() function, try to upgrade all packages in your environment.

# Upgrade all packages in your environment

The most straightforward way to upgrade all outdated packages is to use a Python script.

main.py
import pkg_resources
from subprocess import call

packages = [dist.project_name for dist in pkg_resources.working_set]
call("pip install --upgrade " + ' '.join(packages), shell=True)
You can store the script in a Python file, e.g. main.py and run the file with python main.py to upgrade all of the outdated packages.

Here are alternative commands you can use to upgrade all outdated packages.

shell
# 👇️ macOS or Linux
pip install -U `pip list --outdated | awk 'NR>2 {print $1}'`

# 👇️ Windows
for /F "delims= " %i in ('pip list --outdated') do pip install -U %i

If you use a requirements.txt file, you can update it with the following command.

shell
pip freeze > requirements.txt

# Table of Contents

  1. Cannot import name 'force_text' from django.utils.encoding
  2. Cannot import name 'smart_text' from django.utils.encoding
  3. Cannot import name 'ugettext_lazy' from django.utils.translation

# Cannot import name 'force_text' from django.utils.encoding

The "ImportError: cannot import name 'force_text' from 'django.utils.encoding'" occurs because the force_text method has been removed and replaced by force_str starting Django version 4.

To solve the error, upgrade the package that caused the issue and correct any import statements.

importerror cannot import force text from django utils encoding

shell
ImportError: cannot import name 'force_text' from 'django.utils.encoding' (/home/borislav/Desktop/bobbyhadz_python/venv/lib/python3.11/site-packages/django/utils/encoding.py)

# Table of Contents

Make sure to click on the correct subheading depending on your error message.

  1. Cannot import name 'force_text' from django.utils.encoding
  2. Cannot import name 'smart_text' from django.utils.encoding
  3. Cannot import name 'ugettext_lazy' from django.utils.translation

As the release notes state, django.utils.encoding.force_text has been removed in version 4 of Django.

force text has been removed

# Having an outdated package that imports force_text

The most common cause of the error is having an outdated package that tries to import force_text from django.utils.encoding.

Your error message will likely contain information about the package that caused the error.

The most common packages are:

You can upgrade a package by using the --upgrade option at the end of the pip install command.

shell
# 👇️ Upgrade graphene-django
pip install graphene-django --upgrade
pip3 install graphene-django --upgrade

# ---------------------------------------

# 👇️ Upgrade django-elasticsearch-dsl
pip install django-elasticsearch-dsl --upgrade
pip3 install django-elasticsearch-dsl --upgrade

# ---------------------------------------

# 👇️ Upgrade djangorestframework-simplejwt
pip install djangorestframework-simplejwt --upgrade
pip3 install djangorestframework-simplejwt --upgrade

# ---------------------------------------

# 👇️ Upgrade django-smart-selects
pip install django-smart-selects --upgrade
pip3 install django-smart-selects --upgrade

# ---------------------------------------

# 👇️ Upgrade django-debug-toolbar
pip install django-debug-toolbar --upgrade
pip3 install django-debug-toolbar --upgrade

upgrade django graphene version

# Update your import statements to use force_str

If the error occurred in your code, you have to replace any occurrences of the following import.

main.py
# ⛔️ Old import (Django < v4)
from django.utils.encoding import force_text

With the following import.

main.py
# ✅ Correct import statement (Django v4+)
from django.utils.encoding import force_str

Starting Django v4, you should be using force_str instead of the deprecated and removed force_text.

You can check which version of Django your project uses with the pip show django command.

shell
pip show django
pip3 show django

python -m pip show django
python3 -m pip show django

pip show django version

# Patching the error in your settings.py file

If none of the solutions helped, you can add the following code sample at the top of your settings.py file.

settings.py
import django
from django.utils.encoding import force_str
django.utils.encoding.force_text = force_str
The code sample imports the force_str method and sets the force_text attribute to force_str, so that if any modules try to access force_text, they'd access force_str instead.

# Downgrading your version of Django

Another approach, which I don't recommend, is to:

  • remove the 3 lines above from your settings.py file.
  • downgrade Django to the last version that contains the force_text method and keep the old import statements.
shell
pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall
pip3 install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in PATH environment variable
python -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall
python3 -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ py alias (Windows)
py -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

downgrade django version

The --force-reinstall option forces pip to reinstall the package.

When you run the command, you might get an error that states "ERROR: pip's dependency resolver does not currently take into account all the packages that are installed.".

However, even though the error is shown, the package is installed successfully.

If you use Django version 3, you can use the following import statement in your code.

main.py
# 👇️ Code for Django version 3.X
from django.utils.encoding import force_text

print(force_text)

You can check which version of Django your project uses with the pip show django command.

shell
pip show django
pip3 show django

python -m pip show django
python3 -m pip show django

django version 3 installed

If none of the suggestions helped and the error isn't caused in your code by importing the deprecated force_text function, try to upgrade all packages in your environment.

# Upgrade all packages in your environment

The most straightforward way to upgrade all outdated packages is to use a Python script.

main.py
import pkg_resources
from subprocess import call

packages = [dist.project_name for dist in pkg_resources.working_set]
call("pip install --upgrade " + ' '.join(packages), shell=True)
You can store the script in a Python file, e.g. main.py and run the file with python main.py to upgrade all of the outdated packages.

Here are alternative commands you can use to upgrade all outdated packages.

shell
# 👇️ macOS or Linux
pip install -U `pip list --outdated | awk 'NR>2 {print $1}'`

# 👇️ Windows
for /F "delims= " %i in ('pip list --outdated') do pip install -U %i

If you use a requirements.txt file, you can update it with the following command.

shell
pip freeze > requirements.txt

After upgrading Django to the latest version, make sure to use the following import.

main.py
# 👇️ Correct import statement (Django v4+)
from django.utils.encoding import force_str

# Table of Contents

  1. Cannot import name 'smart_text' from django.utils.encoding
  2. Cannot import name 'ugettext_lazy' from django.utils.translation

# Cannot import name 'smart_text' from django.utils.encoding

The "ImportError: cannot import name 'smart_text' from 'django.utils.encoding'" occurs because the smart_text method has been removed and replaced by smart_str starting Django version 4.

To solve the error, upgrade the package that caused the issue and correct any import statements.

importerror cannot import name smart text from django utils encoding

shell
ImportError: cannot import name 'smart_text' from 'django.utils.encoding' (/home/borislav/Desktop/bobbyhadz_python/venv/lib/python3.11/site-packages/django/utils/encoding.py)

As the release notes state, django.utils.encoding.smart_text has been removed in version 4 of Django.

# Having an outdated package with an incorrect import

The most common cause of the error is having an outdated package that tries to import smart_text from django.utils.encoding.

Your error message will likely contain information about the package that caused the error.

The most common packages are:

You can upgrade a package by using the --upgrade option at the end of the pip install command.

shell
# 👇️ Upgrade django-admin-charts
pip install django-admin-charts --upgrade

# 👇️ Upgrade graphene-django
pip install graphene-django --upgrade

# 👇️ Upgrade django-elasticsearch-dsl
pip install django-elasticsearch-dsl --upgrade

# Update the import statements in your code

If the error occurred in your code, you have to replace any occurrences of the following import.

main.py
# 👇️ Old import (Django < v4)
from django.utils.encoding import smart_text

With the following import.

main.py
# 👇️ Correct import statement (Django v4+)
from django.utils.encoding import smart_str

Starting Django v4, you should be using smart_str instead of the deprecated and removed smart_text.

You can check which version of Django your project uses with the pip show django command.

shell
pip show django
pip3 show django

python -m pip show django
python3 -m pip show django

# Patching the error in your settings.py file

If none of the solutions helped, you can add the following code sample at the top of your settings.py file.

settings.py
import django
from django.utils.encoding import smart_str
django.utils.encoding.smart_text = smart_str
The code sample imports the smart_str method and sets the smart_text attribute to smart_str, so that if any modules try to access smart_text, they'd access smart_str instead.

# Downgrading your version of Django

Another approach, which I don't recommend, is to:

  • remove the 3 lines above from your settings.py file.
  • downgrade Django to the last version that contains the smart_text method and keep the old import statements.
shell
pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall
pip3 install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in PATH environment variable
python -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall
python3 -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ py alias (Windows)
py -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

When you run the command, you might get an error that states "ERROR: pip's dependency resolver does not currently take into account all the packages that are installed.".

However, even though the error is shown, the package is installed successfully.

If you use Django version 3, you can use the following import statement in your code.

main.py
from django.utils.encoding import smart_text

print(smart_text)

If none of the suggestions helped and the error isn't caused in your code by importing the deprecated smart_text function, try to upgrade all packages in your environment.

# Upgrade all packages in your environment

The most straightforward way to upgrade all outdated packages is to use a Python script.

main.py
import pkg_resources
from subprocess import call

packages = [dist.project_name for dist in pkg_resources.working_set]
call("pip install --upgrade " + ' '.join(packages), shell=True)
You can store the script in a Python file, e.g. main.py and run the file with python main.py to upgrade all of the outdated packages.

Here are alternative commands you can use to upgrade all outdated packages.

shell
# 👇️ macOS or Linux
pip install -U `pip list --outdated | awk 'NR>2 {print $1}'`

# 👇️ Windows
for /F "delims= " %i in ('pip list --outdated') do pip install -U %i

If you use a requirements.txt file, you can update it with the following command.

shell
pip freeze > requirements.txt

After upgrading Django to the latest version, make sure to use the following import.

main.py
# 👇️ Correct import statement (Django v4+)
from django.utils.encoding import smart_str

# Cannot import name 'ugettext_lazy' from django.utils.translation

The "ImportError: cannot import name 'ugettext_lazy' from 'django.utils.translation'" occurs because ugettext_lazy function has been deprecated and removed starting Django version 4.

To solve the error, update your import statements to import the gettext_lazy instead.

importerror cannot import name ugettext lazy from django

shell
ImportError: cannot import name 'ugettext_lazy' from 'django.utils.translation' (/home/borislav/Desktop/bobbyhadz_python/venv/lib/python3.11/site-packages/django/utils/translation/__init__.py)

As the release notes state, django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy has been deprecated starting version 3 and has been removed in version 4 of Django.

# Update your imports to use the gettext_lazy function

The first thing you should try is to upgrade your import statements to use the gettext_lazy function instead.

main.py
from django.db import models
from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _

class MyThing(models.Model):
    name = models.CharField(help_text=_('This is the help text'))

You can read more about how lazy translation works in this section of the docs.

Here are the two import statements, the new one and the old one.

main.py
# 👇️ New import statement (Django 4)
from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _

# 👇️ Old import statement (Django older than version 4)
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _

You can check which version of Django your project uses with the pip show django command.

shell
pip show django
pip3 show django

python -m pip show django
python3 -m pip show django

# Downgrading your version of Django

If you have other packages in your environment that use the deprecated ugettext_lazy function, you can try downgrading Django to version 3.2.16, or the last version prior to version 4.

You can check all of the available versions of Django in this section of the package's pypi page.

shell
pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall
pip3 install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in PATH environment variable
python -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall
python3 -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ py alias (Windows)
py -m pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install "Django<4.0" --force-reinstall

When you run the command, you might get an error that states "ERROR: pip's dependency resolver does not currently take into account all the packages that are installed.".

However, even though the error is shown, the package is installed successfully.

If you use Django version 3, you and the packages you use should be able to use both of the following import statements.

main.py
# 👇️ New import statement (Django 4)
from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _

# 👇️ Old import statement (Django older than version 4)
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _

If none of the suggestions helped and the error isn't caused in your code by importing the deprecated ugettext_lazy function, try to upgrade all packages in your environment.

# Upgrade all packages in your environment

The most straightforward way to upgrade all outdated packages is to use a Python script.

main.py
import pkg_resources
from subprocess import call

packages = [dist.project_name for dist in pkg_resources.working_set]
call("pip install --upgrade " + ' '.join(packages), shell=True)
You can store the script in a Python file, e.g. main.py and run the file with python main.py to upgrade all of the outdated packages.

Here are alternative commands you can use to upgrade all outdated packages.

shell
# 👇️ macOS or Linux
pip install -U `pip list --outdated | awk 'NR>2 {print $1}'`

# 👇️ Windows
for /F "delims= " %i in ('pip list --outdated') do pip install -U %i

If you use a requirements.txt file, you can update it with the following command.

shell
pip freeze > requirements.txt

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

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