"pip install" causes SyntaxError: invalid syntax [Solved]

"pip install" causes SyntaxError: invalid syntax [Solved] #

If you get a "SyntaxError: invalid syntax" when trying to install a module using pip, make sure to run the command from your shell, e.g. bash or PowerShell, and not by running a Python file that contains the pip install your_module command.

Here is an example of how the error occurs.

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# ⛔️ SyntaxError: invalid syntax
pip install requests

Running the main.py file with python main.py causes the error because we aren't supposed to run pip commands by running a Python script.

Instead, run the pip install your_module command from your shell, e.g. bash, PowerShell or CMD.

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pip install requests

The example above installs the requests module. Make sure to adjust the name of the module if you have to.

If you get an error when running the pip install some_module command from your shell, try the following commands.

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

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

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install requests

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

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

After you install the specific package, you can import it and use it in your Python script.

Here is an example that imports and uses requests.

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import requests

def make_request():
    res = requests.get('https://reqres.in/api/users')

    print(res.json())


make_request()

If you aren't sure what command you should run to install the module, google for "Pypi your_module_name", e.g. "Pypi requests".

Click on the pypi.org website and look at the pip install command.

If the suggestions didn't help, try creating a virtual environment by running the following commands from your shell.

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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 any modules you need in virtual environment
pip install requests

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

If the error persists and you can't install the specific module, watch a quick video on how to use Virtual environments in Python.

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

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

Conclusion #

If you get a "SyntaxError: invalid syntax" when trying to install a module using pip, make sure to run the command from your shell, e.g. bash or PowerShell, and not by running a Python file that contains the pip install your_module command.