ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'corsheaders' in Python

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Borislav Hadzhiev

Last updated: Apr 10, 2024
12 min

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# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'corsheaders' in Python

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

To solve the error, install the module by running the pip install django-cors-headers command.

modulenotfounderror no module named corsheaders

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and install the django-cors-headers module.

shell
# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ For Python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
pip3 install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install django-cors-headers
pip install django-cors-headers --user

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

# 👇️ For Python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Using py alias (Windows)
py -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge django-cors-headers

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install django-cors-headers

Once you have the django-cors-headers module installed, add it to your installed apps:

settings.py
INSTALLED_APPS = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders",
    # ...,
]

Make sure to add a trailing comma as omitting it causes a ModuleNotFoundError.

You also have to add a middleware class to listen in on responses.

settings.py
MIDDLEWARE = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders.middleware.CorsMiddleware",
    "django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware",
    # ...,
]
CorsMiddleware should be placed as high as possible, before any middleware that can generate responses, such as CommonMiddleware and WhiteNoiseMiddleware.

If you use CORS_REPLACE_HTTPS_REFERER, place CorsMiddleware before Django's CsrfViewMiddleware.

If you get the error ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'django', click on the link and follow the instructions.

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

  1. Not having the django-cors-headers package installed by running pip install django-cors-headers.
  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 corsheaders.py which would shadow the official module.
  6. Declaring a variable named corsheaders 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.

shell
python --version

get python version

For example, my Python version is 3.10.4, so I would install the django-cors-headers package with pip3.10 install django-cors-headers.

shell
pip3.10 install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error use pip3 (NOT pip3.X)
sudo pip3 install django-cors-headers

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:

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

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

# Check if the package is installed

You can check if you have the django-cors-headers package installed by running the pip show django-cors-headers command.

shell
# 👇️ Check if you have django-cors-headers installed
pip show django-cors-headers

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

The pip show django-cors-headers 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.

If you have multiple Python versions installed on your machine, you might have installed the django-cors-headers package using the incorrect version or your IDE might be set up to use a different version.

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.

python select interpreter

Then Select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

select correct python version

Your IDE should be using the same version of Python (including the virtual environment) that you are using to install packages from your terminal.

If you get the error ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'django', click on the link and follow the instructions.

# Install the package in a Virtual Environment

If you are using a virtual environment, make sure you are installing django-cors-headers in your virtual environment and not globally.

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

shell
# 👇️ 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 django-cors-headers in your virtual environment
pip install django-cors-headers

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.

If the error persists, make sure you haven't named a module in your project as corsheaders.py because that would shadow the original django-cors-headers module.

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

# Try reinstalling the package

If the error is not resolved, try to uninstall the django-cors-headers package and then install it.

shell
# 👇️ Check if you have django-cors-headers installed
pip show django-cors-headers

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

# 👇️ Uninstall django-cors-headers
pip uninstall django-cors-headers

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

# 👇️ Install django-cors-headers
pip install django-cors-headers

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

You can also try to upgrade the version of the django-cors-headers package.

shell
pip install django-cors-headers --upgrade

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip install django-cors-headers --upgrade
If the error persists, follow the operating system-specific instructions on how to install django-cors-headers.

# Table of Contents

  1. Install django-cors-headers on Windows
  2. Install django-cors-headers on macOS or Linux
  3. Install django-cors-headers in Visual Studio Code
  4. Install django-cors-headers in PyCharm
  5. Install django-cors-headers in Anaconda
  6. Install django-cors-headers in Jupyter Notebook

# Install django-cors-headers on Windows

To install the django-cors-headers module on Windows:

  1. Type CMD in the search bar and open the Command Prompt application.
  2. Type pip install django-cors-headers and press Enter.
cmd
pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install django-cors-headers

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
pip install django-cors-headers --user

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge django-cors-headers

pip install django-cors-headers windows

Once you have the django-cors-headers module installed, add it to your installed apps:

settings.py
INSTALLED_APPS = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders",
    # ...,
]

Make sure to add a trailing comma as omitting it causes a ModuleNotFoundError.

You also have to add a middleware class to listen in on responses.

settings.py
MIDDLEWARE = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders.middleware.CorsMiddleware",
    "django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware",
    # ...,
]
CorsMiddleware should be placed as high as possible, before any middleware that can generate responses, such as CommonMiddleware and WhiteNoiseMiddleware.

If you use CORS_REPLACE_HTTPS_REFERER, place CorsMiddleware before Django's CsrfViewMiddleware.

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

Right-click on the search result, click on "Run as administrator" and run the pip install command.

run cmd as administrator

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

shell
python -m pip install django-cors-headers

python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

py -m pip install django-cors-headers

Alternatively, you can install the django-cors-headers module in a virtual environment:

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

windows open powershell window here

  1. Click on "Open PowerShell window here".
  2. Run the following commands.
PowerShell
# 👇️ 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 `django-cors-headers` in your virtual environment
pip install django-cors-headers

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.

PowerShell
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
You can verify that the django-cors-headers module is installed by using the pip show django-cors-headers command.
PowerShell
pip show django-cors-headers
pip3 show django-cors-headers

python -m pip show django-cors-headers
python3 -m pip show django-cors-headers

The pip show django-cors-headers 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 django-cors-headers on macOS or Linux

To install django-cors-headers on macOS or Linux:

  1. Search for "terminal" and start the application.
  2. Type pip install django-cors-headers and press Enter.

search for terminal

terminal
pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install django-cors-headers

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install django-cors-headers --user

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge django-cors-headers

macos linux install django-cors-headers

Once you have the django-cors-headers module installed, add it to your installed apps:

settings.py
INSTALLED_APPS = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders",
    # ...,
]

Make sure to add a trailing comma as omitting it causes a ModuleNotFoundError.

You also have to add a middleware class to listen in on responses.

settings.py
MIDDLEWARE = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders.middleware.CorsMiddleware",
    "django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware",
    # ...,
]
CorsMiddleware should be placed as high as possible, before any middleware that can generate responses, such as CommonMiddleware and WhiteNoiseMiddleware.

If you use CORS_REPLACE_HTTPS_REFERER, place CorsMiddleware before Django's CsrfViewMiddleware.

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

terminal
python -m pip install django-cors-headers

python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

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

terminal
sudo pip install django-cors-headers

sudo pip3 install django-cors-headers

Alternatively, you can install the django-cors-headers package in a virtual environment:

  1. Open your terminal in the root directory of your project.
  2. Run the following commands.
shell
# 👇️ Could also be "python -m venv venv"
python3 -m venv venv

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

# 👇️ Install django-cors-headers in your virtual environment
pip install django-cors-headers

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

If the python3 -m venv venv command doesn't work, use python -m venv venv instead.

You can use the pip show command to verify django-cors-headers has been installed successfully.

shell
pip show django-cors-headers
pip3 show django-cors-headers

python -m pip show django-cors-headers
python3 -m pip show django-cors-headers

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

# Install django-cors-headers in Visual Studio Code

To install django-cors-headers in Visual Studio Code:

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install django-cors-headers

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install django-cors-headers --user

vscode pip install django-cors-headers

You can also open the terminal in Visual Studio Code by pressing CTRL+Shift+P and then type "View: Toggle Terminal".

Once you have the django-cors-headers module installed, add it to your installed apps:

settings.py
INSTALLED_APPS = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders",
    # ...,
]

Make sure to add a trailing comma as omitting it causes a ModuleNotFoundError.

You also have to add a middleware class to listen in on responses.

settings.py
MIDDLEWARE = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders.middleware.CorsMiddleware",
    "django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware",
    # ...,
]
CorsMiddleware should be placed as high as possible, before any middleware that can generate responses, such as CommonMiddleware and WhiteNoiseMiddleware.

If you use CORS_REPLACE_HTTPS_REFERER, place CorsMiddleware before Django's CsrfViewMiddleware.

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

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

Then type "Python select interpreter" in the field.

python select interpreter

Then Select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

select correct python version

Your IDE should be using the same version of Python (including the virtual environment) that you are using to install packages from your terminal.

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

terminal
python --version
python3 --version

get python version

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

terminal
# 👇️ 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 django-cors-headers in your virtual environment
pip install django-cors-headers

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

# Install django-cors-headers in PyCharm

To install django-cors-headers in PyCharm:

  1. Press Alt+F12 on your keyboard to open the terminal.
  2. Run the pip install django-cors-headers command to install the django-cors-headers module.
terminal
pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install django-cors-headers

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install django-cors-headers --user

pycharm pip install django-cors-headers

Once you have the django-cors-headers module installed, add it to your installed apps:

settings.py
INSTALLED_APPS = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders",
    # ...,
]

Make sure to add a trailing comma as omitting it causes a ModuleNotFoundError.

You also have to add a middleware class to listen in on responses.

settings.py
MIDDLEWARE = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders.middleware.CorsMiddleware",
    "django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware",
    # ...,
]
CorsMiddleware should be placed as high as possible, before any middleware that can generate responses, such as CommonMiddleware and WhiteNoiseMiddleware.

If you use CORS_REPLACE_HTTPS_REFERER, place CorsMiddleware before Django's CsrfViewMiddleware.

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 django-cors-headers.
  3. Click on "Install Package".

pycharm interpreter install django-cors-headers

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

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

pycharm select correct interpreter

Then Select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

Your IDE should be using the same version of Python (including the virtual environment) that you are using to install packages from your terminal.

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

terminal
python --version
python3 --version

get python version

# Install django-cors-headers in Anaconda

You can install the django-cors-headers 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 django-cors-headers package.

shell
# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install django-cors-headers

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install django-cors-headers --user

Click on the following article if you need to install a specific version of the package using Anaconda.

# Install django-cors-headers in Jupyter Notebook

To install django-cors-headers in Jupyter Notebook:

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

open jupyter notebook

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

jupyter notebook click new terminal

  1. Type pip install django-cors-headers and press Enter.
shell
# 👇️ Using pip
pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install django-cors-headers

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge django-cors-headers

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install django-cors-headers --user

Once you have the django-cors-headers module installed, add it to your installed apps:

settings.py
INSTALLED_APPS = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders",
    # ...,
]

Make sure to add a trailing comma as omitting it causes a ModuleNotFoundError.

You also have to add a middleware class to listen in on responses.

settings.py
MIDDLEWARE = [
    # ...,
    "corsheaders.middleware.CorsMiddleware",
    "django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware",
    # ...,
]
CorsMiddleware should be placed as high as possible, before any middleware that can generate responses, such as CommonMiddleware and WhiteNoiseMiddleware.

If you use CORS_REPLACE_HTTPS_REFERER, place CorsMiddleware before Django's CsrfViewMiddleware.

Alternatively, you can use the Python ipykernel.

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

open jupyter notebook

  1. Click on "New" and then click on "Python 3 (ipykernel)". jupyter notebook click new ipykernel

  2. Type !pip install django-cors-headers and click on "Run".

jupyter notebook install module

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

shell
!pip install django-cors-headers

Once you type the command, click "Run" to install the django-cors-headers module.

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

shell
!pip install django-cors-headers --user

jupyter notebook install with user option

If the error persists, try to restart the Jupyter Kernel and rerun the command.

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