ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'exceptions' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'exceptions' in Python

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

To solve the error, install the module by running the pip install python-docx command.

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and install the python-docx module.

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# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install python-docx

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge python-docx

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install python-docx

After you install the python-docx package, the error should be resolved.

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

1. Not having the python-docx package installed by running pip install python-docx.
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 exception.py which would shadow the official module.
6. Declaring a variable named exceptions 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 python-docx package with pip3.10 install python-docx.

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pip3.10 install python-docx

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

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 python-docx

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

# Check if the package is installed

You can check if you have the python-docx package installed by running the pip show python-docx command.

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# 👇️ Check if you have python-docx installed
pip show python-docx

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

The pip show python-docx 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 python-docx 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 python-docx in your virtual environment
pip install python-docx

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 exceptions as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

If the error is not resolved, try to uninstall the python-docx package and then install it.

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# 👇️ Check if you have python-docx installed
pip show python-docx

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

# 👇️ Uninstall python-docx
pip uninstall python-docx

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

# 👇️ Install python-docx
pip install python-docx

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

You can also try to upgrade the version of the python-docx package.

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pip install python-docx --upgrade

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

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

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