No module named 'distutils' on Python 3.12

[SyberiaK]

Steps to reproduce

1. Install Python 3.12
2. Install speech_recognition and pyaudio with pip (pip install SpeechRecognition and pip install pyaudio)
3. Create a Python script with this code:

import speech_recognition as sr

mic = sr.Microphone()
print('hello')

4. Launch the script.

Expected behaviour

hello printed in the console

Actual behaviour

Because distutils was removed in Python 3.12, we get ModuleNotFoundError: module named 'distutils'

System information

My Python version is 3.12.

[sapozhkov]

try
pip install setuptools

found on https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77931666/modulenotfounderror-no-module-named-distutils-how-to-solve-this-in-macos

[Paulprojects8711]

try pip install setuptools

found on https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77931666/modulenotfounderror-no-module-named-distutils-how-to-solve-this-in-macos

i had the same issue and that actually fixed it thank you

[ftnext]

Thank you for reporting this issue, finding a solution, trying and sharing a result.

ref: https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.12.html#summary-release-highlights

gh-95299: Do not pre-install setuptools in virtual environments created with venv. This means that distutils, setuptools, pkg_resources, and easy_install will no longer available by default; to access these run pip install setuptools in the activated virtual environment.

I wonder adding pip install setuptools to README.

[tphollis]

I'm trying to use the pip install setuptools but I still get the error "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'distutils'". Actually, any time I try to use a pip command, that's the result. any ideas on how to get around this? I'm running on Ubuntu if that helps

[donkrasnov]

The same for me. I'm trying to do import undetected_chromedriver as uc but get an ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'distutils'. I did pip install setuptools and get Requirement already satisfied:.... What I did wrong?

[zahra566]

The same for me. I'm trying to do import undetected_chromedriver as uc but get an ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'distutils'. I did pip install setuptools and get Requirement already satisfied:.... What I did wrong?

I had the same problem while using tensorflow, I added this:
import setuptools.dist

[marcorussi]

Same problem, pip install setuptools is not enough.

[rafa-mblm]

For MAC and Homebrew use brew install python-setuptools

[jasonlytehouse]

Try pip install --upgrade setuptools
Got it from here

[shubhi]

there is a '_disutils_hacks' file in the environmental site-packages, which will tell you to import setuptools before disutils is being used anywhere, which will definitely solve the issue.

[RubTalha]

https://stackoverflow.com/a/76691103/13086128

[mxcxpx]

hello - now with new Linux mint22 or ubuntu24 none of this will help .. and iam lost

pip install --upgrade setuptools
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.

If you wish to install a non-Debian-packaged Python package,
create a virtual environment using python3 -m venv path/to/venv.
Then use path/to/venv/bin/python and path/to/venv/bin/pip. Make
sure you have python3-full installed.

If you wish to install a non-Debian packaged Python application,
it may be easiest to use pipx install xyz, which will manage a
virtual environment for you. Make sure you have pipx installed.

See /usr/share/doc/python3.12/README.venv for more information.

note: If you believe this is a mistake, please contact your Python installation or OS distribution provider. You can override this, at the risk of breaking your Python installation or OS, by passing --break-system-packages.
hint: See PEP 668 for the detailed specification.

[ltspicer]

hello - now with new Linux mint22 or ubuntu24 none of this will help .. and iam lost

pip install --upgrade setuptools 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.

If you wish to install a non-Debian-packaged Python package,
create a virtual environment using python3 -m venv path/to/venv.
Then use path/to/venv/bin/python and path/to/venv/bin/pip. Make
sure you have python3-full installed.

If you wish to install a non-Debian packaged Python application,
it may be easiest to use pipx install xyz, which will manage a
virtual environment for you. Make sure you have pipx installed.

See /usr/share/doc/python3.12/README.venv for more information.

note: If you believe this is a mistake, please contact your Python installation or OS distribution provider. You can override this, at the risk of breaking your Python installation or OS, by passing --break-system-packages. hint: See PEP 668 for the detailed specification.

How to Fix the pip externally-managed-environment error on Linux:

https://www.makeuseof.com/fix-pip-error-externally-managed-environment-linux/

[Naateri]

The same for me. I'm trying to do import undetected_chromedriver as uc but get an ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'distutils'. I did pip install setuptools and get Requirement already satisfied:.... What I did wrong?

I had the same problem while using tensorflow, I added this: import setuptools.dist

This worked like a charm. Tried upgrading and reinstalling setuptools, but this did it.

[bendy05]

Restart the kernel if it doesn't work right away

[sincerexie]

For MAC and Homebrew use brew install python-setuptools

Thank you very much! Your solution is fantastic!

[ftnext]

Thank you all!
I've just released SpeechRecognition 3.11.0, distutils removed version.

[figredos]

For MAC and Homebrew use brew install python-setuptools

This is what solved my problem.

Working from a MAC and with python 3.12

Thank you so much

[Kenhooo]

try pip install setuptools

found on https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77931666/modulenotfounderror-no-module-named-distutils-how-to-solve-this-in-macos

Thank you very much

[rehmatworks]

On MacOS, I encountered this error with the main pip and pip3 commands in the activated Python 3.12 virtual environment. Maybe that's relevant here too. I wasn't able to execute pip install at all. What fixed the issue for me is to upgrade the pip version:

# Created virtualenv
virtualenv -p python3.12 venv

# Activated it
source venv/bin/activate

# Downloaded get-pip.py
curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py

# And upgraded pip version
python get-pip.py

[tlorens]

For MAC and Homebrew use brew install python-setuptools

This is what solved my problem.

Working from a MAC and with python 3.12

Thank you so much

This worked for me. It's the proper and clean way. Apple M3 Pro / Sequoia 15.1.1

Thank you!