ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'psycopg2' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'psycopg2' in Python

The Python "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'psycopg2'" occurs when we forget to install the psycopg2-binary module before importing it or install it in an incorrect environment.

To solve the error, install the module by running the pip install psycopg2-binary command.

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and install the psycopg2-binary module.

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# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install psycopg2-binary
pip install psycopg2-binary --user

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Using py alias (Windows)
py -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Alternative for macOS
brew install postgresql

# 👇️ alternative for Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt install build-essential libpq-dev python3-dev
pip3 install psycopg2

# 👇️ Alternative for Red Hat / CentOS / Fedora
sudo yum install python3-devel postgresql-devel
pip3 install psycopg2

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install psycopg2-binary

The psycopg2-binary module is a stand-alone package that doesn't require a compiler or external libraries.

After you install the psycopg2-binary package, try importing it as follows.

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import psycopg2

# Connect to your Postgres DB
conn = psycopg2.connect("dbname=test user=postgres")

# Open a cursor to perform database operations
cur = conn.cursor()

# Execute a query
cur.execute("SELECT * FROM my_data")

# Retrieve query results
records = cur.fetchall()

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

1. Not having the psycopg2-binary package installed by running pip install psycopg2-binary.
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 psycopg2.py which would shadow the official module.
6. Declaring a variable named psycopg2 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 psycopg2-binary package with pip3.10 install psycopg2-binary.

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pip3.10 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error use pip3 (NOT pip3.X)
sudo pip3 install psycopg2-binary

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 psycopg2-binary

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 psycopg2-binary package installed by running the pip show psycopg2-binary command.

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# 👇️ Check if you have psycopg2-binary installed
pip show psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip show psycopg2-binary

The pip show psycopg2-binary 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 psycopg2-binary 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 psycopg2-binary in your virtual environment
pip install psycopg2-binary

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 psycopg2 as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

If the error is not resolved, try to uninstall the psycopg2-binary package and then install it.

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# 👇️ Check if you have psycopg2-binary installed
pip show psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip show psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Uninstall psycopg2-binary
pip uninstall psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip uninstall psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Install psycopg2-binary
pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

You can also try to upgrade the version of the psycopg2-binary package.

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pip install psycopg2-binary --upgrade

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary --upgrade

# Table of Contents

1. Install psycopg2 on Windows
2. Install psycopg2 on macOS or Linux
3. Install psycopg2 in Visual Studio Code
4. Install psycopg2 in PyCharm
5. Install psycopg2 in Anaconda
6. Install psycopg2 in Jupyter Notebook

# Install psycopg2 on Windows

To install the psycopg2 module on Windows:

1. Type CMD in the search bar and open the Command Prompt application.
2. Type pip install psycopg2-binary and press Enter.

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pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
pip install psycopg2-binary --user

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge psycopg2-binary

The psycopg2-binary module is a stand-alone package that doesn't require a compiler or external libraries.

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 psycopg2-binary.

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python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

py -m pip install psycopg2-binary

Alternatively, you can install the psycopg2-binary 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 psycopg2-binary in your virtual environment
pip install psycopg2-binary

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 psycopg2-binary
pip3 show psycopg2-binary

python -m pip show psycopg2-binary
python3 -m pip show psycopg2-binary

The pip show psycopg2-binary 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 psycopg2-binary on macOS or Linux

To install psycopg2-binary on macOS or Linux:

1. Search for "terminal" and start the application.
2. Type pip install psycopg2-binary and press Enter.

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pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install psycopg2-binary --user

# 👇️ Alternative for macOS
brew install postgresql

# 👇️ Alternative for Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt install build-essential libpq-dev python3-dev
pip3 install psycopg2

# 👇️ Alternative for Red Hat / CentOS / Fedora
sudo yum install python3-devel postgresql-devel
pip3 install psycopg2

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge psycopg2-binary

The psycopg2-binary module is a stand-alone package that doesn't require a compiler or external libraries.

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

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python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

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

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sudo pip install psycopg2-binary

sudo pip3 install psycopg2-binary

Alternatively, you can install the psycopg2-binary package in a virtual environment:

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

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

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

# 👇️ Install psycopg2-binary in your virtual environment
pip install psycopg2-binary

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

You can use the pip show command to verify psycopg2-binary has been installed successfully.

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pip show psycopg2-binary
pip3 show psycopg2-binary

python -m pip show psycopg2-binary
python3 -m pip show psycopg2-binary

The pip show psycopg2-binary command will either state that the package is not installed or show a bunch of information about the package.

# Install psycopg2 in Visual Studio Code

To install psycopg2 in Visual Studio Code:

1. Press CTRL + ` (Backtick) on your keyboard to open the terminal.
2. Run the pip install psycopg2-binary command to install the psycopg2-binary module.

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pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install psycopg2-binary --user

The psycopg2-binary module is a stand-alone package that doesn't require a compiler or external libraries.

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.

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# 👇️ 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 psycopg2-binary in your virtual environment
pip install psycopg2-binary

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

# Install psycopg2 in PyCharm

To install psycopg2 in PyCharm:

1. Press Alt+F12 on your keyboard to open the terminal.
2. Run the pip install psycopg2-binary command to install the psycopg2-binary module.

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pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install psycopg2-binary --user

The psycopg2-binary module is a stand-alone package that doesn't require a compiler or external libraries.

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 psycopg2-binary.
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 psycopg2 in Anaconda

You can install the psycopg2-binary 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 psycopg2-binary package.

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# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install psycopg2-binary --user

The psycopg2-binary module is a stand-alone package that doesn't require a compiler or external libraries.

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

# Install psycopg2 in Jupyter Notebook

To install psycopg2 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 psycopg2-binary and press Enter.

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# 👇️ Using pip
pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ If you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge psycopg2-binary

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install psycopg2-binary --user

The psycopg2-binary module is a stand-alone package that doesn't require a compiler or external libraries.

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 psycopg2-binary 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 psycopg2-binary

Once you type the command, click "Run" to install the psycopg2-binary 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 psycopg2-binary --user

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