matplotlib error - no module named tkinter

Question

For Linux

Debian based distros:

sudo apt-get install python3-tk

RPM based distros:

sudo yum install python3-tkinter

For windows:

For Windows, I think the problem is you didn't install complete Python package. Since Tkinter should be shipped with Python out of box. See: http://www.tkdocs.com/tutorial/install.html . Good python distributions for Windows can be found by the companies Anaconda or ActiveState.

Test the python module

python -c "import tkinter"

p.s. I suggest installing ipython, which provides powerful shell and necessary packages as well.

you can use

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

if you dont want to use tkinter at all.

Also dont forget to use %matplotlib inline at the top of your notebook if using one.

EDIT: agg is a different backend like tkinter for matplotlib.

For Windows users, there's no need to download the installer again. Just do the following:

1. Go to start menu, type Apps & features,
2. Search for "python" in the search box,
3. Select the Python version (e.g. Python 3.8.3rc1(32-bit)) and click Modify,
4. On the Modify Setup page click Modify,
5. Tick td/tk and IDLE checkbox (which installs tkinter) and click next.

Wait for installation and you're done.

On Centos, the package names and commands are different. You'll need to do:

sudo yum install tkinter

To fix the problem.

Almost all answers I searched for this issue say that Python on Windows comes with tkinter and tcl already installed, and I had no luck trying to download or install them using pip, or actviestate.com site. I eventually found that when I was installing python using the binary installer, I had unchecked the module related to TCL and tkinter. So, I ran the binary installer again and chose to modify my python version by this time selecting this option. No need to do anything manually then. If you go to your python terminal, then the following commands should show you version of tkinter installed with your Python:

import tkinter
import _tkinter
tkinter._test()

If you are using fedora then first install tkinter

sudo dnf install python3-tkinter

I don't think you need to import tkinter afterwards I also suggest you to use virtualenv

$ python3 -m venv myvenv
$ source myvenv/bin/activate

And add the necessary packages using pip

On CentOS 7 and Python 3.4, the command is sudo yum install python34-tkinter

On Redhat 7.4 with Python 3.6, the command is sudo yum install rh-python36-python-tkinter