ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'tabulate' in Python

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Borislav Hadzhiev

Last updated: Apr 8, 2024
11 min

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# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'tabulate' in Python

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

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

no module named tabulate

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

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge tabulate

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install tabulate

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

main.py
from tabulate import tabulate

table = [["Sun", 696000, 1989100000], ["Earth", 6371, 5973.6],
         ["Moon", 1737, 73.5], ["Mars", 3390, 641.85]]

print(tabulate(table))

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

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

shell
python --version

get python version

For example, my Python version is 3.10.4, so I would install the tabulate package with pip3.10 install tabulate.

shell
pip3.10 install tabulate

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

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:

shell
# 👇️ Make sure to use your version of Python, e.g. 3.10
python3 -m pip install tabulate

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 tabulate package installed by running the pip show tabulate command.

shell
# 👇️ Check if you have tabulate installed
pip show tabulate

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

The pip show tabulate 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.

If you have multiple Python versions installed on your machine, you might have installed the tabulate package using the incorrect version or your IDE might be set up to use a different version.

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.

python select interpreter

Then Select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

select correct python version

Your IDE should be using the same version of Python (including the virtual environment) that you are using to install packages from your terminal.

# Install the package in a Virtual Environment

If you are using a virtual environment, make sure you are installing tabulate in your virtual environment and not globally.

You can try creating a virtual environment if you don't already have one.

shell
# 👇️ 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 tabulate in your virtual environment
pip install tabulate

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.

If the error persists, make sure you haven't named a module in your project as tabulate.py because that would shadow the original tabulate module.

You also shouldn't be declaring a variable named tabulate as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

shell
# 👇️ Check if you have tabulate installed
pip show tabulate

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

# 👇️ Uninstall tabulate
pip uninstall tabulate

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

# 👇️ Install tabulate
pip install tabulate

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

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

shell
pip install tabulate --upgrade

# 👇️ If you don't have pip set up in PATH
python -m pip install tabulate --upgrade
If the error persists, follow the operating system-specific instructions on how to install tabulate.

# Table of Contents

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

# Install tabulate on Windows

To install the tabulate module on Windows:

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install tabulate

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install tabulate

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install tabulate

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge tabulate

pip install tabulate windows

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

main.py
from tabulate import tabulate

table = [["Sun", 696000, 1989100000], ["Earth", 6371, 5973.6],
         ["Moon", 1737, 73.5], ["Mars", 3390, 641.85]]

print(tabulate(table))

If the installation command doesn't succeed, try running CMD as an administrator.

Right-click on the search result, click on "Run as administrator" and run the pip install command.

run cmd as administrator

If you get the error 'pip' is not recognized as an internal or external command, use the python -m command when installing tabulate.

shell
python -m pip install tabulate

python3 -m pip install tabulate

py -m pip install tabulate

Alternatively, you can install the tabulate module in a virtual environment:

  1. Open the root directory of your project.
  2. Press Shift and right-click in Explorer.

windows open powershell window here

  1. Click on "Open PowerShell window here".
  2. Run the following commands.
PowerShell
# 👇️ 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 tabulate in a virtual environment
pip install tabulate

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.

PowerShell
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
You can verify that the tabulate module is installed by using the pip show tabulate command.
PowerShell
pip show tabulate
pip3 show tabulate

python -m pip show tabulate
python3 -m pip show tabulate

The pip show tabulate 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 tabulate on macOS or Linux

To install tabulate on macOS or Linux:

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

search for terminal

terminal
pip install tabulate

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install tabulate

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install tabulate

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c conda-forge tabulate

macos linux install tabulate

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

main.py
from tabulate import tabulate

table = [["Sun", 696000, 1989100000], ["Earth", 6371, 5973.6],
         ["Moon", 1737, 73.5], ["Mars", 3390, 641.85]]

print(tabulate(table))

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

terminal
python -m pip install tabulate

python3 -m pip install tabulate

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

terminal
sudo pip install tabulate

sudo pip3 install tabulate

Alternatively, you can install the tabulate package in a virtual environment:

  1. Open your terminal in the root directory of your project.
  2. Run the following commands.
shell
# 👇️ Could also be "python -m venv venv"
python3 -m venv venv

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

# 👇️ Install tabulate in your virtual environment
pip install tabulate

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

If the python3 -m venv venv command doesn't work, use python -m venv venv instead.

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

shell
pip show tabulate
pip3 show tabulate

python -m pip show tabulate
python3 -m pip show tabulate

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

# Install tabulate in Visual Studio Code

To install tabulate in Visual Studio Code:

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install tabulate

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install tabulate

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install tabulate

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

vscode pip install tabulate

You can also open the terminal in Visual Studio Code by pressing CTRL+Shift+P and then type "View: Toggle Terminal".

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

main.py
from tabulate import tabulate

table = [["Sun", 696000, 1989100000], ["Earth", 6371, 5973.6],
         ["Moon", 1737, 73.5], ["Mars", 3390, 641.85]]

print(tabulate(table))

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.

python select interpreter

Then Select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

select correct python version

Your IDE should be using the same version of Python (including the virtual environment) that you are using to install packages from your terminal.

You can use the python --version command if you need to get your version of Python.

terminal
python --version
python3 --version

get python version

You can also try creating a virtual environment if you don't already have one.

terminal
# 👇️ 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 tabulate in a virtual environment
pip install tabulate

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

# Install tabulate in PyCharm

To install tabulate in PyCharm:

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install tabulate

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install tabulate

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install tabulate

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

pycharm pip install tabulate

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

main.py
from tabulate import tabulate

table = [["Sun", 696000, 1989100000], ["Earth", 6371, 5973.6],
         ["Moon", 1737, 73.5], ["Mars", 3390, 641.85]]

print(tabulate(table))

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 tabulate.
  3. Click on "Install Package".

pycharm interpreter install tabulate

When installing Python modules in PyCharm, make sure that your IDE is configured to use the correct version of Python.

Click on "File" > "Settings" > "Project" > "Python Interpreter".

pycharm select correct interpreter

Then Select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

Your IDE should be using the same version of Python (including the virtual environment) that you are using to install packages from your terminal.

You can use the python --version command if you need to get your version of Python.

terminal
python --version
python3 --version

get python version

# Install tabulate in Anaconda

To install tabulate in Anaconda:

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

anaconda navigator install package

Alternatively, you can install the tabulate package with a command.

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

main.py
from tabulate import tabulate

table = [["Sun", 696000, 1989100000], ["Earth", 6371, 5973.6],
         ["Moon", 1737, 73.5], ["Mars", 3390, 641.85]]

print(tabulate(table))

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 tabulate package.

shell
# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge tabulate

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install tabulate

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install tabulate

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install tabulate

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install tabulate

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

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

# Install tabulate in Jupyter Notebook

To install tabulate in Jupyter Notebook:

  1. Open your terminal and type "jupyter notebook".

open jupyter notebook

  1. Click on "New" and then "Terminal" in the browser tab.

jupyter notebook click new terminal

  1. Type pip install tabulate and press Enter.
shell
# 👇️ Using pip
pip install tabulate

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install tabulate

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install tabulate

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install tabulate

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c conda-forge tabulate

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

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

main.py
from tabulate import tabulate

table = [["Sun", 696000, 1989100000], ["Earth", 6371, 5973.6],
         ["Moon", 1737, 73.5], ["Mars", 3390, 641.85]]

print(tabulate(table))

Alternatively, you can use the Python ipykernel.

  1. Open your terminal and type "jupyter notebook".

open jupyter notebook

  1. Click on "New" and then click on "Python 3 (ipykernel)". jupyter notebook click new ipykernel

  2. Type !pip install tabulate and click on "Run".

jupyter notebook install module

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

shell
!pip install tabulate

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

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

shell
!pip install tabulate --user

jupyter notebook install with user option

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

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