Pip Install hangs

Question

I currently have Python 3.5 on my Windows machine. I'm trying to install a Python package using the command "pip install" but as soon as I hit enter nothing happens. The action hangs for such a long time and when I try to exit the command line, it freezes. How do I get pip install to work?

Solution 1

@JBernardo 's comment worked for me. Thanks!

python -m pip install some_package_you_want

Solution 2

If you are you using WSL2, indeed it could be related to pip trying to connect to an XServer. If so, clearing the DISPLAY environment variable first before running it may help:

export DISPLAY=
pip install <packagename>

(Or, as a one-liner: DISPLAY= pip install <packagename>)

Solution 3

If you're using Ubuntu via WSL2 on Windows, it might not work outside a virtualenv. python3 -v -m pip install ... showed me that it was hanging on some OS X keychain import... Hopefully this helps someone else.

Solution 4

I had to start 'Xlaunch' display server and it worked, according to a @pscheit it was waiting for a connection to x-server and launching one fixed it

Solution 5

pip install something was hanging for me when I ssh'd into a linux machine and ran pip install from that shell. Using -v from above answers showed that this step was hanging

import 'keyring.backends.macOS' # <_frozen_importlib_external.SourceFileLoader object at 0x7f3d15404d90>

This popped up a keyring authentication window on the linux machine's desktop, waiting for my password. Typing my password allowed this to progress.

I have no idea why a macOS package was being imported on a linux machine.

View more solutions

Comments

[Ayush]

post contents of %HOME%\.pip\pip.log

[JBernardo]

You should try py -3 -m pip install some_package_you_want

[martonbognar]

A note to future visitors of this thread: first check the output of pip -v install <package>, maybe it doesn't hang, just takes unusually long (but actually does stuff in the background) -- this was the case for me.

[Mark Chackerian]

and if you want more diagnostic cruft, python -v -m pip install some_package_you_want

[pscheit]

uh yes, start your xserver!

[pscheit]

try python -v -m pip install to see whats going on

[James M. Lay]

@pscheit would that fix it?

[pscheit]

@JamesM.Lay yep this was my issue. It was waiting for a connection to the x server (i guess to show the prompt for the keychain password)

[flyingduck92]

do you mean like this: export DISPLAY= pip install django ?

[chris]

@flyingduck92 run the two commands separately. The export command just sets the DISPLAY environment variable to an empty string

[Admin]

As it’s currently written, your answer is unclear. Please edit to add additional details that will help others understand how this addresses the question asked. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.

[Emi OB]

Please don't add "thank you" as an answer. Once you have sufficient reputation, you will be able to vote up questions and answers that you found helpful. - From Review

[Isaac]

As another workaround, you can temporarily disable that prompt with unset DISPLAY.

[James M. Lay]

whoa, that's wayyy simpler.

[rsmith54]

this worked for me. Any idea why this works?

[pax]

This work for me too, but WHY???? I'm using X410 as an Xserver. Before that I tried Pip, PDM, Pyenv and Poetry with <command> list to list installed packages and took between 90 and 120 seconds

[aurora]

that's a real WTF imo - it should prompt on the command-line instead of opening a window on some display. thanks for your help!

[prehistoricpenguin]

unset DISPLAY is cool!