Permission denied error by installing matplotlib

Question

I installed opencv with all dependencies. After the installation I tried to import matplotlib for a simple example.

Then I got the following error, when I tried to install matplotlib via pip with pip install matplotlib:

Could not install packages due to an EnvironmentError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/kiwisolver.cpython-35m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so'
Consider using the `--user` option or check the permissions.

What can I do to install matplotlib?

Possible duplicate of [pip install -r: OSError: \[Errno 13\] Permission denied](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/31512422/pip-install-r-oserror-errno-13-permission-denied) — phd, Apr 29 '18 at 15:47

Ronan Boiteau · Accepted Answer · 2021-10-20T20:40:31.637

91

It looks like your user does not have the permission to install packages in your system (for all users). Here's how to fix this problem for Linux, macOS and Windows.

Linux / macOS

From your terminal, you can install the package for your user only, like this:

pip install <package> --user

OR

You can use su or sudo from your terminal, to install the package as root:

sudo pip install <package>

Windows

From the Command Prompt, you can install the package for your user only, like this:

pip install <package> --user

OR

You can install the package as Administrator, by following these steps:

Right click on the Command Prompt icon
Select the option Run This Program As An Administrator
Run the command pip install <package>

edited Oct 20 '21 at 20:40

answered Apr 29 '18 at 13:39

Ronan Boiteau

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4

Running the command line as an administrator produced the same error. Using the --user option (still running as an administrator) worked. – Denziloe Sep 09 '19 at 16:19
1

It worked. I tried as follows. pip install psycopg2-binary --user – Prometheus Dec 03 '19 at 06:06
1

Try --user before going the sudo route – Brendan Metcalfe Apr 01 '21 at 15:20
this works in linux: sudo apt-get install python3-matplotlib – Ferroao Apr 29 '21 at 21:30

score 16 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 08 '19 at 02:16

16

I solved this issue by typing the following command,

pip install --user <package_name>

Example,

pip install --user tensorflow

NOTE: You should not enter your own username for this command. Please enter with '--user'.

answered Jan 08 '19 at 02:16

Deepu Mayanattanmy

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1
5

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 29 '18 at 13:41

1

Try this:

sudo pip install matplotlib

answered Apr 29 '18 at 13:41

Ishara Madhawa

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Please try not to post code/command only. An explanation of "why this works" will make your answer more acceptable. – Yuankun Apr 29 '18 at 15:36
1

This installs it globally yet I want it installed in my virtualenv – Faith Nassiwa Nov 10 '18 at 14:39

score 1 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 02 '20 at 03:28

You don't have the permission to install a package globally, so you can use sudo pip install matplotlib, but it isn't recommended.

The recommended way is using venv or virtualenv to create a virtual environment.

venv:

Create a python virtual environment, command: python3 -m venv <DIR>
Activate the virtual environment, command: source <DIR>/bin/activate
Install matplotlib, command: pip install matplotlib

Permission denied error by installing matplotlib

4 Answers4

Linux / macOS

Windows

Linked

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