Why am I getting a ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'dotenv'?

The "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'dotenv'" error in Python means that the Python interpreter can't find the 'dotenv' module, which is typically used to load environment variables from a .env file.

Here's a breakdown of the common reasons and solutions:

1. 'python-dotenv' is not installed: The most frequent cause is that the python-dotenv package is not installed in your Python environment.

- Solution: Install it using pip: pip install python-dotenv or pip3 install python-dotenv

2. Incorrect Python Environment:

- You might have multiple Python installations and the package is installed in a different environment than where your script is running.

- Solution:

• Make sure you're using the correct Python interpreter. Use which python or which python3 in your terminal to find out which Python is being used.
• If you are using a virtual environment, activate it before running your script (e.g. source venv/bin/activate if you are using venv).
• If using Conda environment, activate with conda activate myenv.

3. Typo in import statement: Make sure you have imported the library correctly using import dotenv, not 'dotnev', or anything similar.

- Solution: Correct the typo. Verify it is import dotenv

4. Path Issue: The .env file may not be in the correct path.

- Solution:

• Make sure that the .env file is located in the same directory as the script that you are running.
• Use a correct path when loading the .env file (e.g. dotenv.load_dotenv(dotenv_path="./.env") to point at it

5. Conflicting libraries: Other packages may sometimes conflict.

- Solution: Create a new environment just for the package, this will eliminate potential conflicts.

6. Case Sensitivity Issues: Ensure that the file name is correctly entered, including capitalization.

- Solution: Double check the filename of .env file.

By checking these common issues, you should be able to resolve the "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'dotenv'" error. If you are still having trouble, consider posting a code snippet on places like Stack Overflow, so that the community can help you further.

Learn more about this