ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'virtualenv' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'virtualenv' in Python

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

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

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

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# 👇️ using Python 2
pip install virtualenv

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ for Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda virtualenv

# 👇️ for Jupyter Notebook
!pip install virtualenv

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

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import virtualenv

print(dir(virtualenv))

Or use it to create a virtual environment:

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virtualenv venv

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

1. Not having the virtualenv package installed by running pip install virtualenv.
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.

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 virtualenv package with pip3.10 install virtualenv.

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pip3.10 install virtualenv

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

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 virtualenv

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 virtualenv package installed by running the pip show virtualenv command.

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# 👇️ check if you have virtualenv installed
pip show virtualenv

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

The pip show virtualenv 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.

# Alternatively, use the built-in venv module

Alternatively, you can use the built-in venv module to create a virtual environment in Python.

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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 modules in virtual environment
pip install requests

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.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

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# 👇️ check if you have virtualenv installed
pip show virtualenv

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

# 👇️ uninstall virtualenv
pip uninstall virtualenv

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

# 👇️ install virtualenv
pip install virtualenv

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

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

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pip install virtualenv --upgrade

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

This one is for using virtual environments (VENV) on Windows:

This one is for using virtual environments (VENV) on MacOS and Linux: