ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'xgboost' in Python

# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'xgboost' in Python

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda py-xgboost

# 👇️ For Jupyter Notebook
!pip install xgboost

After you install the xgboost package, try importing it like:

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import xgboost

print(dir(xgboost))

# Common causes of the error

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

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

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pip3.10 install xgboost

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

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 xgboost

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 xgboost package installed by running the pip show xgboost command.

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# 👇️ Check if you have xgboost installed
pip show xgboost

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

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

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 xgboost as that would also shadow the original module.

# Try reinstalling the package

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

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# 👇️ Check if you have xgboost installed
pip show xgboost

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

# 👇️ Uninstall xgboost
pip uninstall xgboost

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

# 👇️ Install xgboost
pip install xgboost

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

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

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

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pip install xgboost --upgrade

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

# Table of Contents

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

# Install xgboost on Windows

To install the xgboost module on Windows:

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

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pip install xgboost

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install xgboost

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install xgboost

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install xgboost

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda py-xgboost

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 xgboost.

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python -m pip install xgboost

python3 -m pip install xgboost

py -m pip install xgboost

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

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 xgboost
pip3 show xgboost

python -m pip show xgboost
python3 -m pip show xgboost

The pip show xgboost 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 xgboost on macOS or Linux

To install xgboost on macOS or Linux:

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

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pip install xgboost

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install xgboost

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install xgboost

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

# 👇️ For Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda py-xgboost

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

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python -m pip install xgboost

python3 -m pip install xgboost

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

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sudo pip install xgboost

sudo pip3 install xgboost

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

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

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

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pip show xgboost
pip3 show xgboost

python -m pip show xgboost
python3 -m pip show xgboost

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

# Install xgboost in Visual Studio Code

To install xgboost in Visual Studio Code:

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

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pip install xgboost

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install xgboost

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install xgboost

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install xgboost

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

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

# Install xgboost in PyCharm

To install xgboost in PyCharm:

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

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pip install xgboost

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install xgboost

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install xgboost

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install xgboost

# 👇️ Alternative if you get a permissions error
pip install xgboost --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 xgboost.
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 xgboost in Anaconda

To install xgboost in Anaconda:

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

Alternatively, you can install the xgboost 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 xgboost package.

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# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c anaconda py-xgboost

# 👇️ Alternatively use `pip`
pip install xgboost

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install xgboost

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install xgboost

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install xgboost

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

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

# Install xgboost in Jupyter Notebook

To install xgboost 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 xgboost and press Enter.

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# 👇️ Using pip
pip install xgboost

# 👇️ For Python 3
pip3 install xgboost

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

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

# 👇️ For Python 3
python3 -m pip install xgboost

# 👇️ Using py alias
py -m pip install xgboost

# 👇️ Using conda
conda install -c anaconda py-xgboost

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

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

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