ImportError: cannot import name ‘sysconfig’ from ‘distutils’ [SOLVED]

Hey there, fellow developers! Have you ever encountered the dreaded ImportError: cannot import name 'sysconfig' from 'distutils' error while working on a Python project? Trust me, I’ve been there too, and I know how frustrating it can be. The good news is that we’re here to tackle this issue head-on. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the process of troubleshooting and resolving this error. Together, we’ll conquer the ImportError and get your Python project back on track.

The distutils package allows for the building and installation of additional modules into a Python installation. These modules can be written in 100%-pure Python, C, or a combination of both.

ImportError: cannot import name ‘sysconfig’ from ‘distutils’

Are you seeing an error or stacktrace as shown below which says – “ImportError”?

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/pip3", line 9, in <module>
    from pip import main
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/pip/__init__.py", line 14, in <module>
    from pip.utils import get_installed_distributions, get_prog
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/pip/utils/__init__.py", line 23, in <module>
    from pip.locations import (
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/pip/locations.py", line 9, in <module>
    from distutils import sysconfig
ImportError: cannot import name 'sysconfig' from 'distutils' (/usr/lib/python3.8/distutils/__init__.py)

Fix the issue of import by installing python3-distutils

You can fix the above error by installing python3-distutils. Try installing the module by running the following command-

$ sudo apt install python3-distutils

The distutils package provides support for building and installing additional modules into a Python installation.

Congratulations! We’ve successfully explored the solution to the ImportError: cannot import name 'sysconfig' from 'distutils' error. I hope this journey has been insightful and has provided you with the necessary tools to overcome this issue in your Python projects. Remember, encountering errors is an inherent part of software development, but with the right knowledge and troubleshooting steps, you can overcome any challenge that comes your way. Keep coding, keep exploring, and don’t let those ImportErrors bring you down!