VS Code: ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pandas'

Question

Tried to import pandas in VS Code with

import pandas

and got

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "c:\Users\xxxx\hello\sqltest.py", line 2, in <module>
    import pandas
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pandas'

Tried to install pandas with

pip install pandas

pip3 install pandas

python -m pip install pandas

separately which returned

(.venv) PS C:\Users\xxxx\hello> pip3 install pandas

Requirement already satisfied: pandas in c:\users\xxxx\hello\.venv\lib\site-packages (1.1.0)
Requirement already satisfied: pytz>=2017.2 in c:\users\xxxx\hello\.venv\lib\site-packages (from pandas) (2020.1)
Requirement already satisfied: numpy>=1.15.4 in c:\users\xxxx\hello\.venv\lib\site-packages (from pandas) (1.19.1)
Requirement already satisfied: python-dateutil>=2.7.3 in c:\users\xxxx\hello\.venv\lib\site-packages (from pandas) (2.8.1)
Requirement already satisfied: six>=1.5 in c:\users\xxxx\hello\.venv\lib\site-packages (from python-dateutil>=2.7.3->pandas) (1.15.0)

Tried:

sudo pip install pandas

and got

(.venv) PS C:\Users\xxxx\hello> sudo pip install pandas

sudo : The term 'sudo' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ sudo pip install pandas
+ ~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (sudo:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

I also tried to change the python path under workspace settings following this answer. with C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\python.exe which is the python path I found in Command Prompt using where python but didn't work.

Then I tried

python -m venv .venv

which returned

(.venv) PS C:\Users\xxxx\hello> python -m venv .venv

Error: [Errno 13] Permission denied: 'C:\\Users\\xxxx\\hello\\.venv\\Scripts\\python.exe'

---

Update:

Tried

python3.8.5 -m pip install pandas

and returned

(.venv) PS C:\Users\xxxx\hello> python3.8.5 -m pip install pandas

python3.8.5 : The term 'python3.8.5' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ python3.8.5 -m pip install pandas
+ ~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (python3.8.5:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

Answer 1

It's easier than we imagine:

This image explains how to solve this problem.

Answer 2

The problem (at least in my case) was that I have installed a package under the default Python version but I have set the interpreter for the different Python version in Visual Studio Code (VS Code). There are 2 options to resolve this.

1. Change the VS Code Interpreter: VS Code -> View -> Command Palette... (Ctrl+Shift+P) -> Python: Select Interpreter -> select "Python: Select Interpreter" (or Enter) -> select an interpreter based on our chosen Python version under which you have installed the package.
2. Install package under the correct Python version which means to change your default Python version and repeat the process of installation again. To change your default Python version (for Windows 10): Right click on This PC -> Properties -> Advanced System Settings (in the right panel) -> Environment Variables -> System variables (the bottom part of the window) -> double-click on "Path" -> Select the 1st row for the wanted Python version and move it up and then do the same with the 2nd row. I recommend to restart (close and open again) your Command Prompt session if you want to see/work with the new default Python version.

Note on installation: Following command (in Command Prompt) worked for me: pip3 install pandas --user