ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'nltk' in Python

The Python "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'nltk'" occurs when we forget to install the nltk module before importing it or install it in an incorrect environment.

To solve the error, install the module by running the pip install nltk command.

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and install the nltk module.

After you install the nltk package, try importing it like:

The error occurs for multiple reasons:

If the error persists, get your Python version and make sure you are installing the package using the correct Python version.

For example, my Python version is 3.10.4, so I would install the nltk package with pip3.10 install nltk.

Notice that the version number corresponds to the version of pip I'm using.

If the PATH for pip is not set up on your machine, replace pip with python3 -m pip:

If the error persists, try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

You can check if you have the nltk package installed by running the pip show nltk command.

The pip show nltk command will either state that the package is not installed or show a bunch of information about the package, including the location where the package is installed.

If the package is not installed, make sure your IDE is using the correct version of Python.

For example, In VSCode, you can press CTRL + Shift + P or (⌘ + Shift + P on Mac) to open the command palette.

Then type "Python select interpreter" in the field.

Then select the correct python version from the dropdown menu.

If you are using a virtual environment, make sure you are installing nltk in your virtual environment and not globally.

You can try creating a virtual environment if you don't already have one.

If the python3 -m venv venv command doesn't work, try the following 2 commands:

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

You also shouldn't be declaring a variable named nltk as that would also shadow the original module.

If the error is not resolved, try to uninstall the nltk package and then install it.

Try restarting your IDE and development server/script.

You can also try to upgrade the version of the nltk package.

To install the nltk module on Windows:

If the command doesn't succeed, try running CMD as an administrator.

If you get the error "'pip' is not recognized as an internal or external command", use the python -m command when installing nltk.

Alternatively, you can install the nltk module in a virtual environment:

If the python -m venv venv command doesn't work, try the following 2 commands:

If you see an error message that "ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system", run the following command, type "yes" when prompted and rerun the activation command.

The pip show nltk command will either state that the package is not installed or show a bunch of information about the package, including the location where the package is installed.

To install NLTK on macOS or Linux:

If you get an error that pip isn't found, use the python -m command.

If you get a permissions error, prefix the command with sudo.

Alternatively, you can install the nltk package in a virtual environment:

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

You can use the pip show command to verify nltk has been installed successfully.

The pip show nltk command will either state that the package is not installed or show a bunch of information about the package.

To install nltk in Visual Studio Code:

When installing Python modules in Visual Studio code, make sure that your IDE is configured to use the correct version of Python.

Press CTRL+Shift+P or (⌘ + Shift + P on Mac) to open the command palette.

Then type "Python select interpreter" in the field.

Then select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

You can use the python --version command if you need to get your version of Python.

You can also try creating a virtual environment if you don't already have one.

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

To install NLTK in PyCharm:

Alternatively, you can use the IDE itself to install the module.

Click on "File" > "Settings" > "Project" > "Python Interpreter".

Then select the correct Python version from the dropdown menu.

You can use the python --version command if you need to get your version of Python.

To install NLTK in Anaconda:

Alternatively, you can install the nltk package with a command.

If you are on Windows, search for "Anaconda Prompt" and open the application.

If you are on macOS or Linux, open your terminal.

Run the following command to install the nltk package.

To install NLTK in Jupyter Notebook:

Alternatively, you can use the Python ipykernel.

Click on "New" and then click on "Python 3 (ipykernel)".

Type !pip install nltk and click on "Run".

Note that the pip install command must be prefixed with an exclamation mark if you use this approach.

Once you type the command, click "Run" to install the nltk module.

If you get a permissions error, e.g. "[WinError: 5] Access is denied", add the --user option to the installation command.