ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'psutil' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'psutil' in Python

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

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

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

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# 👇️ in a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install psutil

# 👇️ for python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
pip3 install psutil

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install psutil
pip install psutil --user

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

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

# 👇️ using py alias (Windows)
py -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ for Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge psutil

# 👇️ for Jupyter Notebook
!pip install psutil

After you install the psutil package, try importing it as follows.

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import psutil

print(psutil.cpu_times())

for x in range(3):
    psutil.cpu_percent(interval=1)

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

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

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pip3.10 install psutil

# 👇️ if you get permissions error use pip3 (NOT pip3.X)
sudo pip3 install psutil

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 psutil

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 psutil package installed by running the pip show psutil command.

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# 👇️ check if you have psutil installed
pip show psutil

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

The pip show psutil 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 psutil 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 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 psutil in virtual environment
pip install psutil

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 psutil as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

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# 👇️ check if you have psutil installed
pip show psutil

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

# 👇️ uninstall psutil
pip uninstall psutil

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

# 👇️ install psutil
pip install psutil

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

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

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pip install psutil --upgrade

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

# Table of Contents

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

# Install psutil on Windows

To install the psutil module on Windows:

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

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pip install psutil

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install psutil

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

# 👇️ for Python 3
python3 -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
pip install psutil --user

# 👇️ for Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge psutil

After you install the psutil package, try importing it as follows.

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import psutil

print(psutil.cpu_times())

for x in range(3):
    psutil.cpu_percent(interval=1)

If the installation 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 psutil.

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python -m pip install psutil

python3 -m pip install psutil

py -m pip install psutil

Alternatively, you can install the psutil 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.

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# 👇️ 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 psutil in virtual environment
pip install psutil

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.

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Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

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pip show psutil
pip3 show psutil

python -m pip show psutil
python3 -m pip show psutil

The pip show psutil 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 psutil on macOS or Linux

To install psutil on macOS or Linux:

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

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pip install psutil

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install psutil

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install psutil

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ alternative if you get permissions error
pip install psutil --user

# 👇️ for Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge psutil

After you install the psutil package, try importing it as follows.

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import psutil

print(psutil.cpu_times())

for x in range(3):
    psutil.cpu_percent(interval=1)

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

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python -m pip install psutil

python3 -m pip install psutil

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

Copied!
sudo pip install psutil

sudo pip3 install psutil

Alternatively, you can install the psutil 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 psutil in virtual environment
pip install psutil

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

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

Copied!
pip show psutil
pip3 show psutil

python -m pip show psutil
python3 -m pip show psutil

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

# Install psutil in Visual Studio Code

To install psutil in Visual Studio Code:

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

Copied!
pip install psutil

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install psutil

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install psutil

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ alternative if you get permissions error
pip install psutil --user

After you install the psutil package, try importing it as follows.

Copied!
import psutil

print(psutil.cpu_times())

for x in range(3):
    psutil.cpu_percent(interval=1)

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.

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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 psutil in virtual environment
pip install psutil

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

# Install psutil in PyCharm

To install psutil in PyCharm:

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

Copied!
pip install psutil

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install psutil

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install psutil

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ alternative if you get permissions error
pip install psutil --user

After you install the psutil package, try importing it as follows.

Copied!
import psutil

print(psutil.cpu_times())

for x in range(3):
    psutil.cpu_percent(interval=1)

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 psutil.
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.

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python --version
python3 --version

# Install psutil in Anaconda

To install psutil in Anaconda:

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

After you install the psutil package, try importing it as follows.

Copied!
import psutil

print(psutil.cpu_times())

for x in range(3):
    psutil.cpu_percent(interval=1)

Alternatively, you can install the psutil 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 psutil package.

Copied!
# 👇️ using conda
conda install -c conda-forge psutil

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install psutil

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install psutil

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install psutil

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ alternative if you get permissions error
pip install psutil --user

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

# Install psutil in Jupyter Notebook

To install psutil 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 psutil and press Enter.

Copied!
# 👇️ using pip
pip install psutil

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install psutil

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install psutil

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install psutil

# 👇️ using conda
conda install -c conda-forge psutil

# 👇️ alternative if you get permissions error
pip install psutil --user

After you install the psutil package, try importing it as follows.

Copied!
import psutil

print(psutil.cpu_times())

for x in range(3):
    psutil.cpu_percent(interval=1)

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 psutil and click on "Run".

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

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!pip install psutil

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

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

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!pip install psutil --user

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