UserWarning: Could not import the lzma module. Your installed Python is incomplete

# Table of Contents

1. UserWarning: Could not import the lzma module. Your installed Python is incomplete
2. Resolve the issue when using pyenv

# UserWarning: Could not import the lzma module. Your installed Python is incomplete

The Python "UserWarning: Could not import the lzma module. Your installed Python is incomplete." warning is shown when you try to compile Python from source but you don't have the lzma-dev package installed.

To solve the error, install the liblzma-dev package and recompile Python.

Here is the complete warning message.

Copied!
UserWarning: Could not import the lzma module. Your installed Python is incomplete. Attempting to use lzma compression will result in a RuntimeError.

1. Open your terminal and run the command that relates to your flavor of Linux.

Copied!
# for Ubuntu
sudo apt-get install -y lzma liblzma-dev

# for CentOS
yum install -y xz-devel

2. Download the Python source code form https://www.python.org/downloads/.

3. Go to the source code directory (e.g. Python-3.X.Y) and run the following commands.

Copied!
configure
sudo make
sudo make install

The configure file should be located in your Python source code directory (e.g. Python-3.X.Y).

You can also try to access it using a relative path.

Copied!
./configure
sudo make
sudo make install

You can also use the make altinstall command to not overwrite the default Python installation.

Copied!
./configure
sudo make
sudo make altinstall

You can also use the --enable-optimizations flag to enable profile-guided optimizations.

Copied!
./configure --enable-optimizations
sudo make
sudo make altinstall

# Resolve the issue when using pyenv

If you use the pyenv package to manage multiple Python versions on macOS:

1. Install the xz and readline packages using homebrew.

The xz package is necessary to pick up the correct lzma on macOS.

Copied!
brew install readline xz

2. Install your preferred Python version using pyenv.

Copied!
pyenv install 3.10.6

Make sure to replace 3.10.6 with your preferred Python version.

3. Open your profile file (e.g. ~/.bashrc, ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc) for editing.

For example, if you use bash, you can open your profile file as follows.

Copied!
# With Gedit
sudo gedit ~/.bashrc

# Or with Nano
sudo nano ~/.bashrc

Add the following line at the end of the file.

Copied!
eval "$(pyenv init -)"

Then, source the updated ~/.bashrc file.

Copied!
# BASH
source ~/.bashrc

source ~/.bash_profile

If you use ~/.zshrc, issue the following command.

Copied!
sudo gedit ~/.zshrc

sudo nano ~/.zshrc

Add the following line at the end of the file.

Copied!
eval "$(pyenv init -)"

Source your ~/.zshrc file and restart your server.

Copied!
source ~/.zshrc

Enable the installed Python version using the pyenv global command.

Copied!
pyenv global 3.10.6

Make sure to specify the correct Python version - the version you previously installed using pyenv install.

Copied!
pyenv install 3.10.6

Try to install a package to verify everything works as expected.

Copied!
pip install requests

If the issue persists and you are on macOS, run the following commands.

1. Make sure xz is installed.

Copied!
brew install xz

2. Set the following environment variables.

Copied!
prefix=$(brew --prefix)
export LDFLAGS="-L$prefix/opt/xz/lib $LDFLAGS"
export CPPFLAGS="-I$prefix/opt/xz/include $CPPFLAGS"
export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$prefix/opt/xz/lib/pkgconfig:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH"

3. Install your preferred Python version

Copied!
# Make sure GNUBINS is not in your PATH before running the command
PYTHON_CONFIGURE_OPTS="--enable-shared" pyenv install 3.10.6

4. Try to install a package to verify everything works as expected.

Copied!
pip install requests

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

• Install and upgrade PIP
• Install and upgrade setuptools
• Install wheel
• VS Code: Change Python version & select correct Interpreter
• Check if the Python is running as 32-bit or 64-bit