How to install imutils in Python

# Table of Contents

1. Install imutils on Windows
2. Install imutils on macOS or Linux
3. Install imutils in Visual Studio Code
4. Install imutils in PyCharm
5. Install imutils in Anaconda
6. Install imutils in Jupyter Notebook
7. ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'imutils'

# Install imutils on Windows

To install the imutils module on Windows:

1. Type CMD in the search bar and open the Command Prompt application.
2. Type pip install imutils and press Enter.

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pip install imutils

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install imutils

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
pip install imutils --user

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

After you install the imutils package, try importing it as follows.

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import imutils

print(imutils.find_function("contour"))

If the installation command doesn't succeed, try running CMD as an administrator.

If you get the error 'pip' is not recognized as an internal or external command, use the python -m command when installing imutils.

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python -m pip install imutils

python3 -m pip install imutils

py -m pip install imutils

Alternatively, you can install the imutils module in a virtual environment:

1. Open the root directory of your project.
2. Press Shift and right-click in Explorer.

3. Click on "Open PowerShell window here".
4. Run the following commands.

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# 👇️ Might also be: "python3 -m venv venv"
python -m venv venv

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

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

# 👇️ Install `imutils` in your virtual environment
pip install imutils

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

• python3 -m venv venv
• py -m venv venv.

If you see an error message that ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system, run the following command, type "yes" when prompted and rerun the activation command.

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Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

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pip show imutils
pip3 show imutils

python -m pip show imutils
python3 -m pip show imutils

The pip show imutils command will either state that the package is not installed or show a bunch of information about the package, including the location where the package is installed.

# Install imutils on macOS or Linux

To install imutils on macOS or Linux:

1. Search for "terminal" and start the application.
2. Type pip install imutils and press Enter.

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pip install imutils

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install imutils

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install imutils

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

# 👇️ For python 3
python3 -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install imutils --user

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

After you install the imutils package, try importing it as follows.

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import imutils

print(imutils.find_function("contour"))

If you get an error that pip isn't found, use the python -m command.

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python -m pip install imutils

python3 -m pip install imutils

If you get a permissions error, prefix the command with sudo.

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sudo pip install imutils

sudo pip3 install imutils

Alternatively, you can install the imutils package in a virtual environment:

1. Open your terminal in the root directory of your project.
2. Run the following commands.

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# 👇️ Could also be "python -m venv venv"
python3 -m venv venv

# 👇️ Activate virtual env on macOS or Linux
source venv/bin/activate

# 👇️ Install `imutils` in your virtual environment
pip install imutils

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

You can use the pip show command to verify imutils has been installed successfully.

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pip show imutils
pip3 show imutils

python -m pip show imutils
python3 -m pip show imutils

The pip show imutils command will either state that the package is not installed or show a bunch of information about the package.

# Install imutils in Visual Studio Code

To install imutils in Visual Studio Code:

1. Press CTRL + ` (Backtick) on your keyboard to open the terminal.
2. Run the pip install imutils command to install the imutils module.

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pip install imutils

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install imutils

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install imutils

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

# 👇️ For python 3
python3 -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install imutils --user

After you install the imutils package, try importing it as follows.

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import imutils

print(imutils.find_function("contour"))

When installing Python modules in Visual Studio code, make sure that your IDE is configured to use the correct version of Python.

Press CTRL+Shift+P or (⌘ + Shift + P on Mac) to open the command palette.

Then type "Python select interpreter" in the field.

Then select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

You can use the python --version command if you need to get your version of Python.

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python --version
python3 --version

You can also try creating a virtual environment if you don't already have one.

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# 👇️ Could also be "python -m venv venv" or "py -m venv 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

# 👇️ Install `imutils` in your virtual environment
pip install imutils

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

# Install imutils in PyCharm

To install imutils in PyCharm:

1. Press Alt+F12 on your keyboard to open the terminal.
2. Run the pip install imutils command to install the imutils module.

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pip install imutils

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install imutils

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install imutils

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

# 👇️ For python 3
python3 -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install imutils --user

After you install the imutils package, try importing it as follows.

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import imutils

print(imutils.find_function("contour"))

Alternatively, you can use the IDE itself to install the module.

1. Click on "File" > "Settings" > "Project" > "Python Interpreter".
2. Click on the + icon and type imutils.
3. Click on "Install Package".

Click on "File" > "Settings" > "Project" > "Python Interpreter".

Then select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

You can use the python --version command if you need to get your version of Python.

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python --version
python3 --version

# Install imutils in Anaconda

You can install the imutils package with a command.

If you are on Windows, search for "Anaconda Prompt" and open the application.

If you are on macOS or Linux, open your terminal.

Run the following command to install the imutils package.

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# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge imutils

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install imutils

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install imutils

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install imutils

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

# 👇️ For python 3
python3 -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install imutils --user

After you install the imutils package, try importing it as follows.

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import imutils

print(imutils.find_function("contour"))

# Install imutils in Jupyter Notebook

To install imutils in Jupyter Notebook:

1. Open your terminal and type "jupyter notebook".

2. Click on "New" and then "Terminal" in the browser tab.

3. Type pip install imutils and press Enter.

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# 👇️ Using pip
pip install imutils

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install imutils

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install imutils

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

# 👇️ For python 3
python3 -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install imutils

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge imutils

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install imutils --user

After you install the imutils package, try importing it as follows.

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import imutils

print(imutils.find_function("contour"))

Alternatively, you can use the Python ipykernel.

1. Open your terminal and type "jupyter notebook".

2. Click on "New" and then click on "Python 3 (ipykernel)".

3. Type !pip install imutils and click on "Run".

Note that the pip install command must be prefixed with an exclamation mark if you use this approach.

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!pip install imutils

Once you type the command, click "Run" to install the imutils module.

If you get a permissions error, e.g. "[WinError: 5] Access is denied", add the --user option to the installation command.

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!pip install imutils --user

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'imutils' in Python

The Python "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'imutils'" occurs when we forget to install the imutils module before importing it or install it in an incorrect environment.

To solve the error, install the module by running the pip install imutils command.

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and install the imutils module.

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# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install imutils

# 👇️ For python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
pip3 install imutils

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install imutils
pip install imutils --user

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

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

# 👇️ Using py alias (Windows)
py -m pip install imutils

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

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install imutils

After you install the imutils package, try importing it as follows.

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import imutils

print(imutils.find_function("contour"))

The Python error "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'imutils'" occurs for multiple reasons:

1. Not having the imutils package installed by running pip install imutils.
2. Installing the package in a different Python version than the one you're using.
3. Installing the package globally and not in your virtual environment.
4. Your IDE running an incorrect version of Python.
5. Naming your module imutils.py which would shadow the official module.
6. Declaring a variable named imutils which would shadow the imported variable.

If the error persists, get your Python version and make sure you are installing the package using the correct Python version.

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python --version

For example, my Python version is 3.10.4, so I would install the imutils package with pip3.10 install imutils.

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pip3.10 install imutils

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error use pip3 (NOT pip3.X)
sudo pip3 install imutils

Notice that the version number corresponds to the version of pip I'm using.

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 imutils

If the "No module named 'imutils'" error persists, try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

# Check if the package is installed

You can check if you have the imutils package installed by running the pip show imutils command.

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# 👇️ Check if you have imutils installed
pip show imutils

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip show imutils

The pip show imutils command will either state that the package is not installed or show a bunch of information about the package, including the location where the package is installed.

# Make sure your IDE is using the correct Python version

If the package is not installed, make sure your IDE is using the correct version of Python.

For example, In VSCode, you can press CTRL + Shift + P or (⌘ + Shift + P on Mac) to open the command palette.

Then type "Python select interpreter" in the field.

Then select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

# Install the package in a Virtual Environment

If you are using a virtual environment, make sure you are installing imutils in your virtual environment and not globally.

You can try creating 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

# 👇️ Install imutils in your virtual environment
pip install imutils

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

• python -m venv venv
• py -m venv venv

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

You also shouldn't be declaring a variable named imutils as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

If the error is not resolved, try to uninstall the imutils package and then reinstall it.

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# 👇️ Check if you have imutils installed
pip show imutils

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip show imutils

# 👇️ Uninstall imutils
pip uninstall imutils

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip uninstall imutils

# 👇️ install imutils
pip install imutils

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip install imutils

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

You can also try to upgrade the version of the imutils package.

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pip install imutils --upgrade

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip install imutils --upgrade

This one is for using virtual environments (VENV) on Windows:

This one is for using virtual environments (VENV) on MacOS and Linux:

# Conclusion

The Python "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'imutils'" occurs when we forget to install the imutils module before importing it or install it in an incorrect environment.

To solve the error, install the module by running the pip install imutils command.