ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'scipy' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'scipy' in Python

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ alternative for Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install python3-scipy

# 👇️ Alternative for Fedora
sudo dnf install python3-scipy

# 👇️ Alternative for macOS
brew install scipy

# 👇️ for Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda scipy

# 👇️ for Jupyter Notebook
!pip install scipy

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

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from scipy import stats

from scipy.stats import norm

print(dir(stats))

print('bounds of distribution lower: %s, upper: %s' % norm.support())

If you forget to import the scipy module before using it, you'd get the "NameError: name 'scipy' is not defined" error.

Alternatively, you can import the sub-modules from scipy to not have to prefix every interaction with scipy..

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from scipy import integrate, special, stats

result = integrate.quad(lambda x: special.jv(2.5, x), 0, 4.5)

print(result)


print(stats.norm.cdf(0))

Instead of accessing each sub-module as scipy.sub_module, we now access the sub-modules directly.

You can also import only the functions you intend to use from each module.

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from scipy.integrate import quad
from scipy.special import jv
from scipy.stats import norm

result = quad(lambda x: jv(2.5, x), 0, 4.5)
print(result)


print(norm.cdf(0))

Whichever approach you pick make sure you have imported the members you are accessing, otherwise, the "Name 'scipy' is not defined" error occurs.

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

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

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pip3.10 install scipy

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

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 scipy

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 scipy package installed by running the pip show scipy command.

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# 👇️ check if you have scipy installed
pip show scipy

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

The pip show scipy 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 scipy 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 scipy in virtual environment
pip install scipy

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 scipy as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

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# 👇️ check if you have scipy installed
pip show scipy

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

# 👇️ uninstall scipy
pip uninstall scipy

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

# 👇️ install scipy
pip install scipy

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

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

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pip install scipy --upgrade

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

# Table of Contents

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

# Install SciPy on Windows

To install the SciPy module on Windows:

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

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pip install scipy

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install scipy

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

# 👇️ for Python 3
python3 -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install scipy

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

# 👇️ for Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda scipy

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 SciPy.

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python -m pip install scipy

python3 -m pip install scipy

py -m pip install scipy

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

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 scipy
pip3 show scipy

python -m pip show scipy
python3 -m pip show scipy

The pip show scipy 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 SciPy on macOS or Linux

To install SciPy on macOS or Linux:

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

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pip install scipy

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install scipy

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install scipy

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install scipy

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

# 👇️ alternative for Debian (Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install python3-scipy

# 👇️ Alternative for Fedora
sudo dnf install python3-scipy

# 👇️ Alternative for macOS
brew install scipy

# 👇️ for Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda scipy

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

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python -m pip install scipy

python3 -m pip install scipy

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

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sudo pip install scipy

sudo pip3 install scipy

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

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

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

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pip show scipy
pip3 show scipy

python -m pip show scipy
python3 -m pip show scipy

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

# Install SciPy in Visual Studio Code

To install SciPy in Visual Studio Code:

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

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pip install scipy

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install scipy

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install scipy

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ alternative if you get permissions error
pip install scipy --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 scipy in virtual environment
pip install scipy

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

# Install SciPy in PyCharm

To install SciPy in PyCharm:

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

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pip install scipy

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install scipy

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install scipy

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ alternative if you get permissions error
pip install scipy --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 scipy.
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 SciPy in Anaconda

To install SciPy in Anaconda:

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

Alternatively, you can install the SciPy 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 SciPy package.

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# 👇️ using conda
conda install -c anaconda scipy

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install scipy

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install scipy

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install scipy

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install scipy

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

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

# Install SciPy in Jupyter Notebook

To install SciPy 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 scipy and press Enter.

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# 👇️ using pip
pip install scipy

# 👇️ for Python 3
pip3 install scipy

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install scipy

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

# 👇️ for python 3
python3 -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ using py alias
py -m pip install scipy

# 👇️ using conda
conda install -c anaconda scipy

# 👇️ alternative if you get permissions error
pip install scipy --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 scipy 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 scipy

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

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