ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'lxml' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'lxml' in Python

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ Alternative for Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install python3-lxml

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda lxml

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install lxml

If you are on Linux, you might have to install the build dependencies of lxml.

Copied!
sudo apt-get build-dep python3-lxml

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

Copied!
from lxml import etree

print(dir(etree))

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

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

Copied!
pip3.10 install lxml

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

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 lxml

If the error persists, try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

# Check if the package is installed

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

Copied!
# 👇️ Check if you have `lxml` installed
pip show lxml

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

The pip show lxml 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 lxml 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 `lxml` in your virtual environment
pip install lxml

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 lxml as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

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

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

# 👇️ Uninstall lxml
pip uninstall lxml

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

# 👇️ Install lxml
pip install lxml

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

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

Copied!
pip install lxml --upgrade

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

# Table of Contents

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

# Install lxml on Windows

To install the lxml module on Windows:

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

Copied!
pip install lxml

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install lxml

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install lxml

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install lxml

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda lxml

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 lxml.

Copied!
python -m pip install lxml

python3 -m pip install lxml

py -m pip install lxml

Alternatively, you can install the lxml 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 `lxml` in your virtual environment
pip install lxml

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 lxml
pip3 show lxml

python -m pip show lxml
python3 -m pip show lxml

The pip show lxml 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 lxml on macOS or Linux

To install lxml on macOS or Linux:

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

Copied!
pip install lxml

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install lxml

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install lxml

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda lxml

If you are on Linux, you might have to install the build dependencies of lxml.

Copied!
sudo apt-get build-dep python3-lxml

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

Copied!
python -m pip install lxml

python3 -m pip install lxml

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

Copied!
sudo pip install lxml

sudo pip3 install lxml

Alternatively, you can install the lxml 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 `lxml` in your virtual environment
pip install lxml

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

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

Copied!
pip show lxml
pip3 show lxml

python -m pip show lxml
python3 -m pip show lxml

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

# Install lxml in Visual Studio Code

To install lxml in Visual Studio Code:

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

Copied!
pip install lxml

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install lxml

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install lxml

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install lxml

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install lxml --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 `lxml` in your virtual environment
pip install lxml

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

# Install lxml in PyCharm

To install lxml in PyCharm:

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

Copied!
pip install lxml

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install lxml

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install lxml

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install lxml

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

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 lxml.
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.

Copied!
python --version
python3 --version

# Install lxml in Anaconda

To install lxml in Anaconda:

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

Alternatively, you can install the lxml 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 lxml package.

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

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install lxml

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install lxml

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install lxml

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install lxml

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

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

# Install lxml in Jupyter Notebook

To install lxml 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 lxml and press Enter.

Copied!
# 👇️ Using pip
pip install lxml

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install lxml

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install lxml

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install lxml

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c anaconda lxml

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

Once you type the command, click "Run" to install the lxml 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 lxml --user

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