numpy is already installed with Anaconda but I get an ImportError (DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found)

Question

I am using the Anaconda distribution with Python 3.7. Among the packages installed, I have numpy, pandas, etc. In PyCharm IDE, I have set the Project Interpreter to be the path to the python.exe installed with Anaconda: C:\Users\my_user_name\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\python.exe

However, when I try running a simple python script:

import numpy as np print(np.pi) 

I get an error:

ImportError:  Importing the multiarray numpy extension module failed.  Most likely you are trying to import a failed build of numpy. If you're working with a numpy git repo, try `git clean -xdf` (removes all files not under version control).  Otherwise reinstall numpy.  Original error was: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.  See the full error message below:  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Traceback (most recent call last):   File "C:\Users\my_user_name\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\numpy\core\__init__.py", line 16, in <module>     from . import multiarray ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.  During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:  Traceback (most recent call last):   File "C:/Users/my_user_name/Documents/TestMyApps/simpletest.py", line 1, in <module>     import numpy as np   File "C:\Users\my_user_name\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\numpy\__init__.py", line 142, in <module>     from . import add_newdocs   File "C:\Users\my_user_name\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\numpy\add_newdocs.py", line 13, in <module>     from numpy.lib import add_newdoc   File "C:\Users\my_user_name\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\numpy\lib\__init__.py", line 8, in <module>     from .type_check import *   File "C:\Users\my_user_name\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\numpy\lib\type_check.py", line 11, in <module>     import numpy.core.numeric as _nx   File "C:\Users\my_user_name\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\numpy\core\__init__.py", line 26, in <module>     raise ImportError(msg) ImportError:  Importing the multiarray numpy extension module failed.  Most likely you are trying to import a failed build of numpy. If you're working with a numpy git repo, try `git clean -xdf` (removes all files not under version control).  Otherwise reinstall numpy.  Original error was: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.   Process finished with exit code 1  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling numpy using Anaconda Prompt with: conda uninstall numpy, and then: conda install numpy [I now have numpy 1.15.4]. The re-install seem 'successful' (at least according to Anaconda Prompt), but, I keep getting an error in PyCharm.

The strange part, is when I directly go into Anaconda Prompt, and type:

python import numpy as np print(np.pi) 

I do not get any error, and I am able to see the correct result printed out. At first, I thought that perhaps, when using PyCharm, I am somehow pointing to a different executable, but I checked in both Anaconda Prompt and Python Console of Pycharm, using:

sys.executable 

and they both show the same path:

'C:\\Users\\my_user_name\\AppData\\Local\\Continuum\\anaconda3\\python.exe' 

Note that in PyCharm, when I try running a script where I am not importing any library, or when the library imported are just like sys or os, the scripts run fine. However, when I try running any other script that involves importing a library that somehow depends on numpy, it fails as well (i.e. scripts where I import pandas, etc.) Those same scripts work fine in Anaconda Prompt.

I am at a loss here, any help would be very appreciated!

Answer 1

I have actually figured out the solution. I had initially edited my System Environment Variable ‘PATH’ by adding the path to the Scripts folder in my Python executable directory. Turns out, this was NOT enough...

I had to add more paths to it, and that magically did the trick.

See below the paths I added for the System Environment Variable PATH:

C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Local\Continuum\Anaconda3\Scripts\ C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Local\Continuum\Anaconda3\Library\ C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Local\Continuum\Anaconda3\Library\bin\ C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Local\Continuum\Anaconda3\Library\mingw-w64\bin\ 

Now, I am not sure exactly which one path among these 4 my System was really looking for in particular. However, adding this combination sure did work for me 😊

Answer 2

Edit your System Environment Variable "PATH’ (refer steps here) by adding below given path.

Note: Follow this step if you already have numpy installed.

If using anaconda: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Continuum\Anaconda<version>\Library\bin\  If using independent python interpreter: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python<version>\Library\bin