ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'skbuild' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'skbuild' in Python

To solve the Python "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'skbuild'", run the pip3 install --upgrade pip command to upgrade pip and then install the scikit-build module by running the pip install scikit-build command.

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and install the scikit-build module.

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# ✅ First upgrade pip
pip3 install --upgrade pip

# ✅ If you get a permissions error, run with sudo
sudo pip3 install --upgrade pip

# 👇️ In a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install scikit-build

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge scikit-build

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install scikit-build

If you got the error when trying to install OpenCV, make sure to upgrade pip before installing opencv-python.

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# ✅ First upgrade pip
pip3 install --upgrade pip

# ✅ If you get a permissions error, run with sudo
sudo pip3 install --upgrade pip

# ✅ Alternatives for upgrading pip

# 👇️ On Linux or MacOS
python -m ensurepip --upgrade

# 👇️ Using python 3
python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade

# 👇️ On Windows
py -m ensurepip --upgrade

Try running the pip install opencv-python command after upgrading pip and it should succeed.

After installing scikit-build, you can import from skbuild as follows.

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from skbuild import setup

print(dir(setup))

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

1. Not having the scikit-build package installed by running pip install scikit-build.
2. Having an outdated version of pip.
3. Installing the package in a different Python version than the one you're using.
4. Installing the package globally and not in your virtual environment.
5. Your IDE running an incorrect version of Python.
6. Naming your module skbuild.py which would shadow the official module.
7. Declaring a variable named skbuild 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 scikit-build package with pip3.10 install scikit-build.

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pip3.10 install scikit-build

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

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 scikit-build

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 scikit-build package installed by running the pip show scikit-build command.

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# 👇️ Check if you have scikit-build installed
pip show scikit-build

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

The pip show scikit-build 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 scikit-build 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 scikit-build in your virtual environment
pip install scikit-build

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 skbuild as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

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# 👇️ Check if you have scikit-build installed
pip show scikit-build

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

# 👇️ Uninstall scikit-build
pip uninstall scikit-build

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

# 👇️ Install scikit-build
pip install scikit-build

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

You can also try to upgrade the version of the scikit-build package.

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pip install scikit-build --upgrade

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

# Table of Contents

1. Install scikit-build (skbuild) on Windows
2. Install scikit-build (skbuild) on macOS or Linux
3. Install scikit-build (skbuild) in Visual Studio Code
4. Install scikit-build (skbuild) in PyCharm
5. Install scikit-build (skbuild) in Anaconda
6. Install scikit-build (skbuild) in Jupyter Notebook

# Install scikit-build (skbuild) on Windows

To install the scikit-build module on Windows:

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

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pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install scikit-build

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install scikit-build

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge scikit-build

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 scikit-build.

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python -m pip install scikit-build

python3 -m pip install scikit-build

py -m pip install scikit-build

Alternatively, you can install the scikit-build 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 scikit-build in your virtual environment
pip install scikit-build

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 scikit-build
pip3 show scikit-build

python -m pip show scikit-build
python3 -m pip show scikit-build

The pip show scikit-build 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 scikit-build (skbuild) on macOS or Linux

To install scikit-build on macOS or Linux:

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

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pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install scikit-build

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install scikit-build

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install scikit-build

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge scikit-build

If you are on Linux, make sure you have build-essential installed before installing scikit-build.

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sudo apt-get install build-essential

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

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python -m pip install scikit-build

python3 -m pip install scikit-build

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

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sudo pip install scikit-build

sudo pip3 install scikit-build

Alternatively, you can install the scikit-build 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 scikit-build in your virtual environment
pip install scikit-build

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

You can use the pip show command to verify scikit-build has been installed successfully.

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pip show scikit-build
pip3 show scikit-build

python -m pip show scikit-build
python3 -m pip show scikit-build

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

# Install scikit-build (skbuild) in Visual Studio Code

To install scikit-build in Visual Studio Code:

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

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pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install scikit-build

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install scikit-build

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install scikit-build

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

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

# Install scikit-build (skbuild) in PyCharm

To install scikit-build in PyCharm:

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

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pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install scikit-build

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install scikit-build

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install scikit-build --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 scikit-build.
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 scikit-build (skbuild) in Anaconda

To install scikit-build in Anaconda:

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

Alternatively, you can install the scikit-build 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 scikit-build package.

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# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge scikit-build

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install scikit-build

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install scikit-build

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install scikit-build

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

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

# Install scikit-build (skbuild) in Jupyter Notebook

To install scikit-build 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 scikit-build and press Enter.

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# 👇️ Using pip
pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install scikit-build

# 👇️ If you get a permissions error
sudo pip3 install scikit-build

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install scikit-build

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge scikit-build

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

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

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