ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pyodbc' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pyodbc' in Python

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

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

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

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# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install pyodbc

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda pyodbc

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install pyodbc

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

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import pyodbc

cnxn = pyodbc.connect(
  'DRIVER={ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server};SERVER=localhost;DATABASE=testdb;UID=me;PWD=pass'
  )

cnxn = pyodbc.connect('DSN=test;PWD=password')

cursor = cnxn.cursor()

If the suggestions didn't help, try running an operating system-specific command from this section of the documentation.

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

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

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pip3.10 install pyodbc

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

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 pyodbc

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 pyodbc package installed by running the pip show pyodbc command.

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# 👇️ Check if you have pyodbc installed
pip show pyodbc

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

The pip show pyodbc 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 pyodbc 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 pyodbc in your virtual environment
pip install pyodbc

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 pyodbc as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

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# 👇️ Check if you have pyodbc installed
pip show pyodbc

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

# 👇️ Uninstall pyodbc
pip uninstall pyodbc

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

# 👇️ Install pyodbc
pip install pyodbc

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

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

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pip install pyodbc --upgrade

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

# Table of Contents

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

# Install pyodbc on Windows

To install the pyodbc module on Windows:

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

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pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install pyodbc

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install pyodbc

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda pyodbc

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 pyodbc.

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python -m pip install pyodbc

python3 -m pip install pyodbc

py -m pip install pyodbc

Alternatively, you can install the pyodbc 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 pyodbc in your virtual environment
pip install pyodbc

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

If none of the suggestions for installing pyodbc helped, try running an operating system-specific command from this section of the documentation.

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pip show pyodbc
pip3 show pyodbc

python -m pip show pyodbc
python3 -m pip show pyodbc

The pip show pyodbc 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 pyodbc on macOS or Linux

To install pyodbc on macOS or Linux:

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

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pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install pyodbc

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install pyodbc

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda pyodbc

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

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python -m pip install pyodbc

python3 -m pip install pyodbc

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

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sudo pip install pyodbc

sudo pip3 install pyodbc

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

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

If none of the suggestions for installing pyodbc helped, try running an operating system-specific command from this section of the documentation.

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

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pip show pyodbc
pip3 show pyodbc

python -m pip show pyodbc
python3 -m pip show pyodbc

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

# Install pyodbc in Visual Studio Code

To install pyodbc in Visual Studio Code:

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

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pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install pyodbc

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install pyodbc

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

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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 pyodbc in your virtual environment
pip install pyodbc

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

If none of the suggestions for installing pyodbc helped, try running an operating system-specific command from this section of the documentation.

# Install pyodbc in PyCharm

To install pyodbc in PyCharm:

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

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pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install pyodbc

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install pyodbc

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

If none of the suggestions for installing pyodbc helped, try running an operating system-specific command from this section of the documentation.

# Install pyodbc in Anaconda

To install pyodbc in Anaconda:

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

Alternatively, you can install the pyodbc 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 pyodbc package.

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# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c anaconda pyodbc

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install pyodbc

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install pyodbc

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

If none of the suggestions for installing pyodbc helped, try running an operating system-specific command from this section of the documentation.

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

# Install pyodbc in Jupyter Notebook

To install pyodbc 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 pyodbc and press Enter.

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# 👇️ Using pip
pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install pyodbc

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install pyodbc

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c anaconda pyodbc

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

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

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

If none of the suggestions for installing pyodbc helped, try running an operating system-specific command from this section of the documentation.