Getting "No module named '_tkinter'" error #9017

SamusAranX · 2017-08-10T21:11:42Z

Bug report

I just wanted to use matplotlib to draw a line graph and save it to a file, but every time I try to import the pyplot module I get the abovementioned error message.

python3 -c "import matplotlib.pyplot"

Actual outcome

>>> import matplotlib.pyplot
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/matplotlib/pyplot.py", line 115, in <module>
    _backend_mod, new_figure_manager, draw_if_interactive, _show = pylab_setup()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/matplotlib/backends/__init__.py", line 32, in pylab_setup
    globals(),locals(),[backend_name],0)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py", line 6, in <module>
    from six.moves import tkinter as Tk
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/six.py", line 92, in __get__
    result = self._resolve()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/six.py", line 115, in _resolve
    return _import_module(self.mod)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/six.py", line 82, in _import_module
    __import__(name)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/tkinter/__init__.py", line 36, in <module>
    import _tkinter # If this fails your Python may not be configured for Tk
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_tkinter'

Expected outcome

Whatever happens when import matplotlib.pyplot succeeds

Matplotlib version

Operating System: Windows Subsystem for Linux
Matplotlib Version: 2.0.2
Python Version: 3.6.0

I installed matplotlib using pip.
Doing sudo apt-get install python3-tk, as recommended by someone on Stack Overflow, didn't help.

The text was updated successfully, but these errors were encountered:

tacaswell · 2017-08-10T21:18:01Z

How did you install mpl?

Can you do import tkinter in a python shell?

If you built from source suspect you also need the tk dev packages as well?

This is the first report (that I can recall) of using Matplotilb in Windows Subsystem for Linux, you may be a guinea pig 😅 Any notes from you experience with this that could go in the docs would be very appreciated!

SamusAranX · 2017-08-10T21:26:59Z

I installed matplotlib using pip.

😛

I installed Python 3.6 from source though, omitting the tk packages as I didn't need them.
Guess I'll try that tomorrow while upgrading to 3.6.2.

tacaswell · 2017-08-10T21:58:12Z

Oh, that is easy to fix then

import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('agg')
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

If you didn't install tk in your python then you can not use the tk backend.

WeatherGod · 2017-08-11T13:23:34Z

Or update your matplotlibrc file to use a different default backend

…

On Thu, Aug 10, 2017 at 5:58 PM, Thomas A Caswell ***@***.***> wrote: Oh, that is easy to fix then import matplotlib matplotlib.use('agg')import matplotlib.pyplot as plt If you didn't install tk in your python then you can not use the tk backend. — You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#9017 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AARy-K7c5fXOPUz1laRcc1sOQdNaaik5ks5sW3z2gaJpZM4Oz_H8> .

anntzer · 2017-08-17T21:13:31Z

Closing as this is apparently a python install issue -- but feel free to request a reopen if something else is wrong, or to suggest some change in the docs.

dimaqq · 2017-12-07T05:38:07Z

My 2c: should be reopened for the following reason:

from matplotlib import pyplot as plt
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_tkinter'
import matplotlib
matplotlib.use("agg")
UserWarning: 
This call to matplotlib.use() has no effect...
from matplotlib import pyplot as plt
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_tkinter'

First error is fine, but the second error is not.
IMO it's not OK that state is messed up and user cannot recover.

jklymak · 2017-12-07T06:32:37Z

Pyplot sets the backend if it’s lot been set already. The user only need move the import matpltolib and matplotlib.use before the pyplot import.

dimaqq · 2017-12-07T07:25:45Z

That's exactly the problem -- requiring user to do something before they know they need it.

WeatherGod · 2017-12-07T14:39:55Z

The issue of pyplot setting the backend is currently being worked on from multiple angles. This has been a long-standing issue, and it is a very tricky issue to address. One of the first features that'll likely come out of it is configuring matplotlib by default to respect a hierarchy of backend choices, so it can fail-over more gracefully to other backends.

…

On Thu, Dec 7, 2017 at 2:25 AM, Dima Tisnek ***@***.***> wrote: That's exactly the problem -- requiring user to do something before they know they need it. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#9017 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AARy-FOL1l1j6iCIORYW9EX2TO7RAuWYks5s95L6gaJpZM4Oz_H8> .

shenjiefeng · 2018-02-23T01:41:45Z

on minimal install centos7.

first

yum install -y tkinter tk-devel

then in ipython env,

import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('agg')
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt # no error, it works
plt.figure(1).show()

arisen：

/root/venv36/lib/python3.6/site-packages/matplotlib/figure.py:418: UserWarning: matplotlib is currently using a non-GUI backend, so cannot show the figure
"matplotlib is currently using a non-GUI backend, "

I have already Configure X11 forwarding on xshell with the steps of http://www.doxer.org/use-xming-xshell-putty-tightvnc-to-display-linux-gui-on-windows-desktop-x11-forwarding-when-behind-firewall/

but it still not work

tacaswell · 2018-02-23T02:22:38Z

@shenjiefeng with matplotlib.use('agg') you are explicitly asked for a non-GUI backend.

This question would be better handled on the mailing list [email protected] (https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/matplotlib-users you will have to subscribe to post un-moderated).

importing matplotlib on systems that do not have TkInter installed gives a ModuleNotFoundError (see matplotlib/matplotlib#9017) This commit works around this issue by setting the 'agg' backend for matplotlib.

CarlWilson111 · 2018-09-18T05:37:37Z

Oh, that is easy to fix then
import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('agg')
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
If you didn't install tk in your python then you can not use the tk backend.

That is used for me.
In some Saas platforms, users are forbiden to change system environment, so fix like this will help.
Thank you very much.

dimaqq · 2018-09-18T06:08:10Z

It's a total bummer that matplotlib initializes the backend early, and fails hard.
Perhaps there's a good reason for that.
From what I see, a notable share of users stumbles on this when trying matplotlib for the first time, i.e. if they copy-paste an example and boom! a cryptic exception instead of pretty plots.
I sincerely hope that the maintainers take a second look at this issue.

jklymak · 2018-09-18T13:49:48Z

3.0.0 will change the backend fallback behaviour.

tacaswell · 2018-09-18T17:38:11Z

From what I see, a notable share of users stumbles on this when trying matplotlib for the first time, i.e. if they copy-paste an example and boom! a cryptic exception instead of pretty plots.

The other option is no exceptions and no plots. The cryptic error at least suggests that something is not behaving as expected.

dimaqq · 2018-09-19T05:32:33Z

Thanks @jklymak that's very good to hear!

sajed-zarrinpour · 2019-04-11T12:41:55Z

in my case on manjaro Linux, installing python-pmw worked it out.

…without tk or graphic interface. * See here for discussion: matplotlib/matplotlib#9017 (comment) * One can also work around this using by setting a text-based matplotlib backend like so: import matplotlib matplotlib.use('agg') * Error message is like so: File "/home/micha/Documents/git/mmpreprocesspy/venv-testenv/lib/python3.7/site-packages/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py", line 5, in <module> import tkinter as Tk ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'tkinter'

sajed-zarrinpour · 2019-11-10T08:29:12Z

Thank you very much.

…

On Sat, Nov 9, 2019 at 6:40 PM MilanP28 ***@***.***> wrote: sudo apt-get install python3-tk Then, import tkinter # all fine Full source code at icetutor <https://icetutor.com/question/matplotlib-error-no-module-named-tkinter/> — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#9017?email_source=notifications&email_token=AHLQRJAU6PJ7KDMAXNMUWKTQS3HGTA5CNFSM4DWP6H6KYY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOEDUIFWY#issuecomment-552108763>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AHLQRJEDNG3WXDFOCOAYU23QS3HGTANCNFSM4DWP6H6A> .

KipCrossing · 2020-05-29T06:23:53Z

lt;dr?
upgrade to >3.0.0

gosuto-inzasheru · 2020-06-02T17:01:28Z

I am still getting this on matplotlib=3.2.1. Also, why is tkinter not just a dependency of matplotlib? This is messing up package management for me.

jklymak · 2020-06-02T19:12:58Z

@jorijnsmit Can you open a new issue that explains what you are trying to do. w/ 3.2.1 you should get a fallback to agg at the very least.

tacaswell · 2020-06-02T23:19:29Z

@jorijnsmit We do not have a hard dependency on an GUI toolkit because there are many uses where you do not need it (batch jobs, use in a notebook, in a webserver etc).

The dependency on Tk is further complicated because the bindings are part of the standard library, but some packagers split it out into a separate package. If you think the Matplotliblib package should depend on the python-tk package, please take that up with the maintainers of your packaging tool.

phoenixeliot · 2020-09-16T00:50:10Z

I know this is an old issue, but I found the most reliable solution to this on macOS, especially in combination with the PyCharm debugger crashing due to matplotlib related tk issues, was to use the backend 'macosx'.

tacaswell added this to the 2.1.1 (next bug fix release) milestone Aug 10, 2017

tacaswell added OS: Microsoft Documentation labels Aug 10, 2017

anntzer closed this as completed Aug 17, 2017

anntzer mentioned this issue Dec 7, 2017

Backend switching #9795

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Run Error with Bayesian Gab0/japonicus#59

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bazbt3 mentioned this issue Feb 3, 2018

matplotlib fails at my web host, needs tkinter bazbt3/crypto#3

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bjmorgan mentioned this issue Feb 26, 2018

Fix for matplotlib import error for systems without TkInter installed. abelcarreras/DynaPhoPy#3

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tkinter required to test() astropy/astroplan#376

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loftusa mentioned this issue Dec 11, 2019

remove matplotlib backend code, add matplotlib dependency to setup.py graspologic-org/graspologic#295

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w4nderlust mentioned this issue Dec 25, 2019

visualization throws error ludwig-ai/ludwig#597

Closed

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Getting "No module named '_tkinter'" error #9017

Getting "No module named '_tkinter'" error #9017

Comments

SamusAranX commented Aug 10, 2017 • edited Loading Uh oh! There was an error while loading. Please reload this page.

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Bug report

tacaswell commented Aug 10, 2017

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SamusAranX commented Aug 10, 2017

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tacaswell commented Aug 10, 2017

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WeatherGod commented Aug 11, 2017 via email

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anntzer commented Aug 17, 2017

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dimaqq commented Dec 7, 2017

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jklymak commented Dec 7, 2017

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dimaqq commented Dec 7, 2017

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WeatherGod commented Dec 7, 2017 via email

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shenjiefeng commented Feb 23, 2018

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tacaswell commented Feb 23, 2018

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CarlWilson111 commented Sep 18, 2018

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dimaqq commented Sep 18, 2018

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jklymak commented Sep 18, 2018

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tacaswell commented Sep 18, 2018

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dimaqq commented Sep 19, 2018

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sajed-zarrinpour commented Apr 11, 2019

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sajed-zarrinpour commented Nov 10, 2019 via email

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KipCrossing commented May 29, 2020

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gosuto-inzasheru commented Jun 2, 2020

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jklymak commented Jun 2, 2020

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tacaswell commented Jun 2, 2020

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phoenixeliot commented Sep 16, 2020

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SamusAranX commented Aug 10, 2017 •

edited

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