How to Install `PyQt5` in Python

v5.15.11 General Purpose Python >=3.8 GPL v3

Python bindings for the Qt cross platform application toolkit

Install pip install PyQt5

What is PyQt5?

Python bindings for the Qt cross platform application toolkit

PyQt5 - Comprehensive Python Bindings for Qt v5

Qt is set of cross-platform C++ libraries that implement high-level APIs for accessing many aspects of modern desktop and mobile systems. These include location and positioning services, multimedia, NFC and Bluetooth connectivity, a Chromium based web browser, as well as traditional UI development.

PyQt5 is a comprehensive set of Python bindings for Qt v5. It is implemented as more than 35 extension modules and enables Python to be used as an alternative application development language to C++ on all supported platforms including iOS and Android.

PyPI page → Author: Riverbank Computing Limited <[email protected]>

Quick Start

Minimal example to get started with PyQt5:

import PyQt5

print(PyQt5.__version__)

Installation

pip (standard)

pip install PyQt5

Virtual environment (recommended)

python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate   # Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
pip install PyQt5

pip3

pip3 install PyQt5

conda

conda install -c conda-forge PyQt5

Poetry

poetry add PyQt5

Dependencies

Installing PyQt5 will also install these packages:

PyQt5-sip PyQt5-Qt5

Verify the Installation

After installing, confirm the package is available:

python -c "import PyQt5; print(PyQt5.__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 PyQt5 with pip.

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'PyQt5'

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

Fix: Run pip install PyQt5. If using a virtual environment, ensure it is activated first.

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'PyQt5' (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 PyQt5 to install into the interpreter you are running.

ImportError: cannot import name 'X' from 'PyQt5'

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

Fix: Check the version with pip show PyQt5 and upgrade with pip install --upgrade PyQt5.

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 PyQt5. 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 PyQt5

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 PyQt5

Recent Releases

Version	Released
`5.15.11` latest	2024-07-19
`5.15.10`	2023-10-14
`5.15.9`	2023-02-06
`5.15.8`	2023-01-28
`5.15.7`	2022-06-18

Full release history on PyPI →

Manage PyQt5

Upgrade to latest version

pip install --upgrade PyQt5

Install a specific version

pip install PyQt5==5.15.11

Uninstall

pip uninstall PyQt5

Check what is installed

pip show PyQt5

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

How to Install PyQt5 in Python