Python not configured for Tk [duplicate]

Question

I am using Ubuntu 13.10 and Python 3.3.4 using pyenv. I have no problem using other modules. When I enter python console and write

import tkinter

It outputs

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File "/home/serdar/.pyenv/versions/3.3.4/lib/python3.3/tkinter/__init__.py", line 40, in <module>
import _tkinter # If this fails your Python may not be configured for Tk
ImportError: No module named '_tkinter'

I already installed python3-tk and tk-devel.

Yes it worked but pyenv installs multiple version. You can change active python version with single command. It installs under ~/.pyenv/versions. ~/.pyenv/versions/3.3.4/bin/python3 -c'import tkinter' didn't worked. — serdar
– serdar, Commented Mar 21, 2014 at 21:03
if it works with /usr/bin/python3 then try to recreate the environment — jfs
– jfs, Commented Mar 22, 2014 at 2:27
@J.F.Sebastian JFI: pyenv works different from regular virtualenvs. — blueyed
– blueyed, Commented Jul 8, 2015 at 16:51
if you are using pyenv for Python environments management and want IDLE work there is step by step guide stackoverflow.com/questions/61870688/… — nickolay
– nickolay, Commented May 18, 2020 at 22:06

blueyed · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-08 17:05:02Z

40

You need to have the Tk development files/headers available during pyenv install.

On Ubuntu (15.04) the following should provide them: sudo apt-get install tk-dev.

After this, pyenv install 3.4.3 (or pyenv install 2.7.10 etc) should pick it up and have support for Tk.

(Reference issue in pyenv)

answered Jul 8, 2015 at 17:05

blueyed

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5 Comments

lbonn Over a year ago

this should probably go in the pyenv faq

wassname Over a year ago

I just added it to the requirements in common-build-problems wiki page

StackG Over a year ago

For Red Hat / Amazon Linux, this is: sudo yum install tkinter

stackoverflax Over a year ago

I'm having the same issue on MacOS. Anyone have ideas?

Austin not from Boston Over a year ago

This was my issue. I was still trying to get it to work without creating a new env

dpaluy · Accepted Answer · 2019-03-31 14:20:42Z

18

This is a guide for Mac users,

Uninstall your python version. For example: pyenv uninstall 3.7.2
Install TK: brew install tcl-tk
Follow the post install steps and config tk:

export LDFLAGS="-L/usr/local/opt/tcl-tk/lib"
export CPPFLAGS="-I/usr/local/opt/tcl-tk/include"
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/opt/tcl-tk/bin

Reload your terminal session and make sure all settings above are correctly set
Install python: pyenv install 3.7.2

The TK should work now

answered Mar 31, 2019 at 14:20

dpaluy

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3 Comments

nickolay Over a year ago

thats correct. I've just posted the step by step guide for ones who may need it -stackoverflow.com/questions/61870688/…

JohnnyJS Over a year ago

ACTUALLY What solved my problem is: brew install python-tk and not the tcl... thing.

Nurulazrad Murad Over a year ago

thanks @JohnnyJS, your solution works for me. btw i'm on python-3.9

charlesreid1 · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-15 18:24:21Z

4

For Mac users,

Uninstall pyenv completely: brew uninstall pyenv && rm -rf ~/.pyenv.
install zlib, tcl-tk and pyenv

brew update
brew install zlib
brew install tcl-tk #otherwise we may have problems with tf package
brew install pyenv

Make compilers find zlib. Add this to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc (if you youse oh-my-zsh)

# For compilers to find zlib you may need to set:
export LDFLAGS="${LDFLAGS} -L/usr/local/opt/zlib/lib"
export CPPFLAGS="${CPPFLAGS} -I/usr/local/opt/zlib/include"

# For pkg-config to find zlib you may need to set:
export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${PKG_CONFIG_PATH} /usr/local/opt/zlib/lib/pkgconfig"

Then you are set up!. For more details check this github gist.

edited Jan 15, 2020 at 18:24

charlesreid1

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answered Apr 12, 2019 at 12:36

CaptainSalami

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1 Comment

RobM Over a year ago

If you just want to run a tool that requires tk, you can use pipx to create a venv and script that goes into $PATH to launch it without interfering with PyEnv etc. E.g. to run the Thonny GUI using Homebrew's Python + TK libraries:

brew install python python-tk && cd /opt/homebrew/Cellar/[email protected]/3.11.6_1/bin && ./python3 -m pip install pipx && ./python3 -m pipx install thonny && cd && .local/bin/thonny

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