Anaconda: cannot import cv2 even though opencv is installed (how to install opencv3 for python3)

Question

I have Anaconda (version: conda 4.2.9, python3) installed and am trying to do import cv2 when I get the following error:

ImportError: No module named 'cv2'

With conda search cv2 I get this:

  opencv                     2.4.2                np15py26_0  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np15py27_0  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np16py26_0  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np16py27_0  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np17py26_0  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np17py27_0  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np15py26_1  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np15py27_1  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np16py26_1  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np16py27_1  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np17py26_1  defaults        
                             2.4.2                np17py27_1  defaults        
                             2.4.6                np16py26_0  defaults        
                             2.4.6                np16py27_0  defaults        
                             2.4.6                np17py26_0  defaults        
                             2.4.6                np17py27_0  defaults        
                             2.4.6                np18py26_0  defaults        
                             2.4.6                np18py27_0  defaults        
                             2.4.9                np18py27_0  defaults        
                             2.4.10               np19py26_0  defaults        
                             2.4.10               np19py27_0  defaults        
                             2.4.10              np110py27_1  defaults        
                             2.4.10               np19py26_1  defaults        
                             2.4.10               np19py27_1  defaults

What do I need to do to be able to import the cv2 module?

I am using Ubuntu 16.04.

Show me the command line history before and after opening python. — SolessChong, Oct 12 '16 at 02:21

score 23 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

opencv is not compatible with python 3. I had to install opencv3 for python 3. The marked answer in how could we install opencv on anaconda? explains how to install opencv(3) for anaconda:

Run the following command:

conda install -c https://conda.binstar.org/menpo opencv

I realized that opencv3 is also available now, run the following command:

conda install -c https://conda.binstar.org/menpo opencv3

Edit on Aug 18, 2016: You may like to add the "menpo" channel permanently by:

conda config --add channels menpo

And then opencv can be installed by:

conda install opencv (or opencv3)

Edit on Aug 14, 2017: "clinicalgraphics" channel provides relatively newer vtk version for very recent python3

conda install -c clinicalgraphics vtk

Edit on April 16, 2020 (based on @AMC's comment): OpenCV can be installed through conda-forge (details see here)

conda install -c conda-forge opencv

_Edit on Mar 10, 2020: Hong's answer is the currently suggested way of installing opencv3 by Anaconda (see here) conda install -c menpo opencv=3_ That package is unmaintained since late 2017, possibly earlier. OpenCV is available from the main Anaconda channel and from conda-forge. — AMC, Apr 16 '20 at 01:45

score 11 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 22 '17 at 18:59

11

You can try

conda install -c menpo opencv=3

answered Mar 22 '17 at 18:59

Hong

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@padd13ear That package is unmaintained since late 2017, possibly earlier. OpenCV is available from the main Anaconda channel and from conda-forge. – AMC Apr 16 '20 at 01:46

score 9 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 05 '20 at 17:19

9

Use this code at the Anaconda prompt:

conda update conda -c conda-canary

Then don't type this code:

conda install -c conda-forge opencv

but, instead, use:

Pip install opencv-python

It worked with me after few days of trials

See Krishna Ojha's video and read the comments below the video.

edited Jul 05 '20 at 17:19

the Tin Man

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answered Apr 09 '20 at 09:20

Ama Mo

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Is this using anaconda with Python 3 or 2? Do you run the `pip` command from the Anaconda prompt? – alelom Jul 05 '20 at 15:25
Excellent answer, this worked for me 19/07/2020, you type all this in Anaconda prompt not cmd – homelessmathaddict Jul 19 '20 at 13:26
4/9/2023: I cannot believe that 3 years later this still seems to be the fix: I spent a a day trying to install opencv with conda and finally gave up. Installing with pip from the conda prompt took less than a minute! – Wappler Apr 09 '23 at 18:29

score 5 · Answer 4 · edited Jul 05 '20 at 17:15

5

I had created my Anaconda environment and installed everything I needed, but when trying to import cv2, I always got the message "no module named cv2". I reinstalled and followed Linda's tips, which didn't work.

Finally, I noticed that my Anaconda environment didn't have cv2 installed, even with all I did.
I copied the cv2 folder to "miniconda'X'/envs/yourEnv/lib/python'X.X'/site-packages/" which worked for me.

edited Jul 05 '20 at 17:15

the Tin Man

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answered Mar 01 '18 at 10:42

Paulo Ricardo

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this was driving me mad – Loop Jan 25 '19 at 10:24

score 3 · Answer 5 · edited Jul 05 '20 at 17:16

3

The file may be not installed properly.

Run the following commands:

Sudo apt-get update
Sudo apt-get upgrade

then

pip install opencv-python

Check-in your jupyter notebook:

import cv2
print cv2.__version__

This may solve the issue.

edited Jul 05 '20 at 17:16

the Tin Man

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answered Dec 05 '19 at 06:29

Pronab Roy

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score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Apr 14 '21 at 07:19

0

If aforementioned solutions don't work for you & you have opencv installed in conda environment then try the following command:

conda install nb_conda

edited Apr 14 '21 at 07:19

Tomerikoo

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answered Apr 14 '21 at 06:40

Abhishek Kumar

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score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Mar 13 '23 at 15:17

0

Using the Anaconda Graphical Interface.

Launch Anaconda
Click on Environment
Select Target Environment
Select "All" from the list of Options
Search for "OpenCv"
Install

answered Mar 13 '23 at 15:17

Ifeoluwa Osungade

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Anaconda: cannot import cv2 even though opencv is installed (how to install opencv3 for python3)

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