ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'cx_Oracle' in Python

# "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'cx_Oracle' in Python"

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

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

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

Copied!
# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install cx_Oracle

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda cx_oracle

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install cx_Oracle

After you install the cx_Oracle package, try importing it like:

Copied!
import cx_Oracle

print(dir(cx_Oracle))

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

1. Not having the cx_Oracle package installed by running pip install cx_Oracle.
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 cx_Oracle.py which would shadow the official module.
6. Declaring a variable named cx_Oracle 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.

Copied!
python --version

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

Copied!
pip3.10 install cx_Oracle

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

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:

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

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

# Check if the package is installed

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

Copied!
# 👇️ Check if you have cx_Oracle installed
pip show cx_Oracle

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

The pip show cx_Oracle 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 cx_Oracle in your virtual environment and not globally.

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

Copied!
# 👇️ 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 cx_Oracle in your virtual environment
pip install cx_Oracle

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 cx_Oracle as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

Copied!
# 👇️ Check if you have cx_Oracle installed
pip show cx_Oracle

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

# 👇️ Uninstall cx_Oracle
pip uninstall cx_Oracle

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

# 👇️ Install cx_Oracle
pip install cx_Oracle

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

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

Copied!
pip install cx_Oracle --upgrade

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

# Table of Contents

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

# Install cx_Oracle on Windows

To install the cx_Oracle module on Windows:

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

Copied!
pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install cx_Oracle

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install cx_Oracle

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda cx_oracle

If the 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 cx_Oracle.

Copied!
python -m pip install cx_Oracle

python3 -m pip install cx_Oracle

py -m pip install cx_Oracle

Alternatively, you can install the cx_Oracle 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.

Copied!
# 👇️ 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 cx_Oracle in your virtual environment
pip install cx_Oracle

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.

Copied!
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Copied!
pip show cx_Oracle
pip3 show cx_Oracle

python -m pip show cx_Oracle
python3 -m pip show cx_Oracle

The pip show cx_Oracle 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 cx_Oracle on macOS or Linux

To install cx_Oracle on macOS or Linux:

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

Copied!

pip3 install cx_Oracle
# 👇️ For Python 3

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

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

python3 -m pip install cx_Oracle
# 👇️ For Python 3

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda cx_oracle

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

Copied!
python -m pip install cx_Oracle

python3 -m pip install cx_Oracle

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

Copied!
sudo pip install cx_Oracle

sudo pip3 install cx_Oracle

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ Install cx_Oracle in your virtual environment
pip install cx_Oracle

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

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

Copied!
pip show cx_Oracle
pip3 show cx_Oracle

python -m pip show cx_Oracle
python3 -m pip show cx_Oracle

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

# Install cx_Oracle in Visual Studio Code

To install cx_Oracle in Visual Studio Code:

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

Copied!
pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install cx_Oracle

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install cx_Oracle

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

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.

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.

Copied!
python --version
python3 --version

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

Copied!
# 👇️ 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 cx_Oracle in your virtual environment
pip install cx_Oracle

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

# Install cx_Oracle in PyCharm

To install cx_Oracle in PyCharm:

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

Copied!
pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install cx_Oracle

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install cx_Oracle

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

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.

Copied!
python --version
python3 --version

# Install cx_Oracle in Anaconda

To install cx_Oracle in Anaconda:

1. Open your Anaconda Navigator.
2. Click on "Environments" and select your project.
3. Type cx_oracle in the search bar to the right.
4. Tick the cx_oracle package and click on "Apply".

Alternatively, you can install the cx_Oracle 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 cx_Oracle package.

Copied!
# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c anaconda cx_oracle

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install cx_Oracle

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install cx_Oracle

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

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

# Install cx_Oracle in Jupyter Notebook

To install cx_Oracle 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 cx_Oracle and press Enter.

Copied!
# 👇️ Using pip
pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install cx_Oracle

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install cx_Oracle

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c anaconda cx_oracle

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

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 cx_Oracle and click on "Run".

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

Copied!
!pip install cx_Oracle

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

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

Copied!
!pip install cx_Oracle --user

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