How to Install `boto` in Python

v2.49.0 General Purpose MIT

Amazon Web Services Library

Install pip install boto

What is boto?

Amazon Web Services Library

, the next version of Boto, is now stable and recommended for general use. It can be used side-by-side with Boto in the same project, so it is easy to start using Boto3 in your existing projects as well as new projects. Going forward, API updates and all new feature work will be focused on Boto3.

To assist users who still depend on Boto and cannot immediately switch over, we will be triaging and addressing critical issues and PRs in Boto in the short term. As more users make the switch to Boto3, we expect to reduce our maintenance involvement over time. If we decide on a cutoff date or any significant changes to our maintenance plan, we will make pre-announcements well ahead of schedule to allow ample time for our users to adapt/migrate.

Boto is a Python package that provides interfaces to Amazon Web Services. Currently, all features work with Python 2.6 and 2.7. Work is under way to support Python 3.3+ in the same codebase. Modules are being ported one at a time with the help of the open source community, so please check below for compatibility with Python 3.3+.

Documentation → PyPI page → Author: Mitch Garnaat

Quick Start

Minimal example to get started with boto:

import boto

print(boto.__version__)

Installation

pip (standard)

pip install boto

Virtual environment (recommended)

python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate   # Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
pip install boto

pip3

pip3 install boto

conda

conda install -c conda-forge boto

Poetry

poetry add boto

Verify the Installation

After installing, confirm the package is available:

python -c "import boto; print(boto.__version__)"

If this prints a version number, installation succeeded. If you see a ModuleNotFoundError, see the errors section below.

Installation Errors

Common errors when installing boto with pip.

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'boto'

Cause: The package is not installed in the current Python environment.

Fix: Run pip install boto. If using a virtual environment, ensure it is activated first.

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'boto' (installed but still failing)

Cause: pip installed the package into a different Python than the one running your script.

Fix: Use python -m pip install boto to install into the interpreter you are running.

ImportError: cannot import name 'X' from 'boto'

Cause: The function or class does not exist in the installed version.

Fix: Check the version with pip show boto and upgrade with pip install --upgrade boto.

pip: command not found

Cause: pip is not in PATH or Python was not added to PATH during installation.

Fix: Try python -m pip install boto. On macOS/Linux try pip3.

PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied

Cause: No write access to the system Python package directory.

Fix: Use a virtual environment, or add --user: pip install --user boto

SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED

Cause: pip cannot verify PyPI's SSL certificate — common behind corporate proxies.

Fix: Try: pip install --trusted-host pypi.org --trusted-host files.pythonhosted.org boto

Recent Releases

Version	Released
`2.49.0` latest	2018-07-11
`2.48.0`	2017-07-06
`2.47.0`	2017-05-24
`2.46.1`	2017-02-21
`2.46.0`	2017-02-20

Full release history on PyPI →

Manage boto

Upgrade to latest version

pip install --upgrade boto

Install a specific version

pip install boto==2.49.0

Uninstall

pip uninstall boto

Check what is installed

pip show boto

Last updated: 2026-04-11 • Data from PyPI

How to Install boto in Python