How to Install `python-docx` in Python

v1.2.0 CLI & Utilities Python >=3.9 MIT

Create, read, and update Microsoft Word .docx files.

Install pip install python-docx

What is python-docx?

Create, read, and update Microsoft Word .docx files.

python-docx is a Python library for reading, creating, and updating Microsoft Word 2007+ (.docx) files.

More information is available in the python-docx documentation

PyPI page → Author: Steve Canny <[email protected]>

Quick Start

Minimal example to get started with python-docx:

import docx

print(docx.__version__)

Installation

pip (standard)

pip install python-docx

Virtual environment (recommended)

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

pip3

pip3 install python-docx

conda

conda install -c conda-forge python-docx

Poetry

poetry add python-docx

Dependencies

Installing python-docx will also install these packages:

lxml typing_extensions

Verify the Installation

After installing, confirm the package is available:

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

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'docx'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 python-docx. 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 python-docx

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 python-docx

Recent Releases

Version	Released
`1.2.0` latest	2025-06-16
`1.1.2`	2024-05-01
`1.1.1`	2024-04-30
`1.1.0`	2023-11-04
`1.0.1`	2023-10-12

Full release history on PyPI →

Manage python-docx

Upgrade to latest version

pip install --upgrade python-docx

Install a specific version

pip install python-docx==1.2.0

Uninstall

pip uninstall python-docx

Check what is installed

pip show python-docx

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

How to Install python-docx in Python