Why Does Pip Show \'externally-managed-environment\' Error, and How Can I Install Packages?

pip Error: "externally-managed-environment" When Installing Packages

When attempting to install Python packages using pip on Linux systems, you may encounter the following error message:

error: externally-managed-environment

× This environment is externally managed
╰─> To install Python packages system-wide, try apt install
    python3-xyz, where xyz is the package you are trying to
    install.

...

Meaning of the Error

The error indicates that the Python environment is managed externally, typically by the OS package manager (e.g., apt in Debian or Ubuntu). This means that pip is discouraged from installing or upgrading packages at the system level to avoid conflicts.

Solutions to Avoid the Error

As recommended in the error message, the preferred way to install Python packages is to use a virtual environment. A virtual environment isolates installed packages from the system-wide Python installation.

To use a virtual environment:

• Create a virtual environment using venv:

python3 -m venv path/to/new-venv

• Activate the environment:

source path/to/new-venv/bin/activate

• Install packages within the environment:

pip install xyz

Installing Packages System-Wide (Not Recommended)

If you still wish to install packages system-wide, there are two options:

• Pass the "--break-system-packages" argument to pip:

This forcefully installs packages at the system level, but it is not recommended as it can break your Python installation.

• Modify your pip configuration:

Add the following lines to ~/.config/pip/pip.conf:

[global]
break-system-packages = true

This will allow pip to install packages system-wide, but again, it is not recommended due to potential risks.

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