ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'flask_cors' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'flask_cors' in Python

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

To solve the error, install the module by running the pip install Flask-Cors command.

no module named flask cors

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and install the Flask-Cors module.

shell

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# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install Flask-Cors

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda flask-cors

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install Flask-Cors

After you install the Flask-Cors package, try importing it as follows.

main.py

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from flask_cors import CORS
from flask import Flask

app = Flask(__name__)
CORS(app)

@app.route("/")
def helloWorld():
    return "Hello, cross-origin-world!"

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

Not having the Flask-Cors package installed by running pip install Flask-Cors.
Installing the package in a different Python version than the one you're using.
Installing the package globally and not in your virtual environment.
Your IDE running an incorrect version of Python.

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

shell

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python --version

get python version

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

shell

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pip3.10 install Flask-Cors

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

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

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

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

# Check if the package is installed

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

shell

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# 👇️ Check if you have Flask-Cors installed
pip show Flask-Cors

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

The pip show Flask-Cors 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 Flask-Cors 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.

# Install the package in a Virtual Environment

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

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

shell

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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 Flask-Cors in your virtual environment
pip install Flask-Cors

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.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

shell

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# 👇️ Check if you have Flask-Cors installed
pip show Flask-Cors

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

# 👇️ Uninstall Flask-Cors
pip uninstall Flask-Cors

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

# 👇️ Install Flask-Cors
pip install Flask-Cors

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

You can also try to upgrade the version of the Flask-Cors package.

shell

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pip install Flask-Cors --upgrade

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

If the error persists, I would suggest watching a quick video on how to use Virtual environments in Python.

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

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

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ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'flask_cors' in Python