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I've seen this question being asked before (at least twice), but I haven't found a solution so far, so I'll ask the question again with some more details.

The Problem

When I run my python main file, PyCharm keeps telling me Cannot start process, the working directory /home/myname/PyCharmProjects/MyProjectName/mypackage does not exist.

When did this error occur?

After I created a package mypackage for test purposes, moved files to it (inluding my main file), and moved the files back to the root folder afterwards.

The package mypackage was empty after that, but PyCharm still thought that the main file (Main.py) is located in that package. I could still run the program until I deleted the empty package, but path errors occurred. After deleting the package, I was unable to start it.

Additional Info

  • I can still run the other files that used to be in mypackage and are now in my root directory again
  • I can still create and run new files in my root directory
R.G.
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11 Answers11

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It happens because when you create a file it automatically assigns the working directory to it's configuration, which of course is the one where you created it.

You can change that by going into Run -> Edit Configurations. Click on the folder icon in Script path: and correct the path to the file. Click OK to save and you should be able to Run the file again.

fbicknel
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Guest
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    This works, but frankly I'm baffled that Pycharm doesn't handle this more gracefully. In particular, it should know to change the script path when you move the file _in Pycharm_. – oulenz Sep 30 '21 at 12:57
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    Perhaps this multiple ways this can happen, but *this* is the real answer (at least for me) as opposed to deleting, renaming, commenting out things, etc. It is crazy that Pycharm seems to cache/save this and doesn't change it as expected. – Brendano257 Dec 12 '21 at 14:38
  • I have multiple people working on a code base and I get this error because I don't have the same path to my GIT repo as someone else... if I fix the path in Config, it will break for them? – PandaWood Feb 01 '22 at 22:38
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After testing for a bit, I've found a solution (but not an answer to why this error occurs in PyCharm):

Delete the file and create it again. (Or rename or move it and create a new file with its old name, both should work.)

R.G.
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    No need for all that! See the answer above re: `Run -> Edit Configurations`. Once there, observe that `Script path:` is wrong; click on the little folder icon and find the file. Once that's fixed, you can `run` again. – fbicknel Oct 05 '18 at 20:46
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    even simpler solution: click on Edit Configurations, and delete temporary configuration you were running for that file. Pycharm seems to rebuild it autmatically with correct path. – tikej Nov 28 '20 at 17:28
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I had the same problem, mine is probably related to the explaination gave by the others, it comes from the dir .idea, files *.xml contain the variable $DIR_PROJECT$.

Therefore, as the attribution of a new path didn't work, I just deleted my .idea, that is automatically loaded each time I open my project's directory.

It automatically regenerated the .idea, asked for the script path... And it worked perfectly

CAREFUL => You will automatically lose your project settings, you are deleting the "settings file"

Nqsir
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Set the working directory correctly

1. File-> Settings

2. Build, Execution, Deployment -> Console -> Python Console

3. Working directory: [The path to the directory where the file you're currently working on resides.]

victorkolis
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I was getting this same error, and the path in "edit configurations" was correct. However, this is what eventually got my code working again.

1) I commented out all of the code in my file ("ctrl" + "a" + "ctrl" + "/")

2) I commented something I knew would compile in the file. (my list of imports)

3) I ran the python file. This time, it actually completely compiled and after that I was able to uncomment the rest of my code and everything worked again.

engineer1221
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The issue kept popping up over and over in PyCharm. So I created a new project and loaded the needed script. Then I provided the directory to path and assigned the default Python version that I wanted to use... and it worked. Then I was able to finally use "execute line in console" once again.

Kevin
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Oleg Ban
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I had this problem because I renamed my project, it was "xx" I renamed it to "yy", what I did was I went through the directory of .idea in the "yy", in any of those files (all XML files) if there were the name "xx", I replaced it with "yy"

Babak Akbarzade
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I experienced this problem after moving my project to a different root directory. None of the above solutions worked for me.

I solved it by opening my entire project folder, instead of just the python file I was trying to run. And then running the file I wanted, while the entire project was loaded into PyCharm.

Sheldonfrith
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open the qtdesigner work dictionary setting and choose your project path then click OK, don't not use the mysterious work dictionary path by default

yunfei bai
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In my case Run -> Edit Configuration didn't help.
I've solved it changing the value of "WORKING_DIRECTORY" attribute in .idea -> workspace.xml

<option name="WORKING_DIRECTORY" value="$PROJECT_DIR$/your/correct/path/here" />

Marcel
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I am a beginner so appreciated this 6 year and 6 month discussion. I couldn't add a comment. I setup PyCharm 2022.1.1 and a Python 3.10.4 virtual environment with pyside2 and pyside6 on Ubuntu 22.04. I tried all the suggestions above and could get none of them to work for me. Following these instructions: https://pythonpyqt.com/how-to-install-pyqt5-in-pycharm/ both pyside2-designer (Qt5Designer) and pyside6-designer from my virtual environment were added as external tools. pyside2-designer failed with the working directory error and pyside6-designer worked without any error. Looking closer at pyside2-designer selecting the working directory with the browse button, I still could not create file - exit code was 127 - but the Qt5 Designer was available for existing ui files. I used pyside2 because PyQt5-tools could not be pip installed in my python3.10.4 virtual env.

Sildeag
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  • This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient [reputation](https://stackoverflow.com/help/whats-reputation) you will be able to [comment on any post](https://stackoverflow.com/help/privileges/comment); instead, [provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/214173/why-do-i-need-50-reputation-to-comment-what-can-i-do-instead). - [From Review](/review/late-answers/31781799) – Sadra May 21 '22 at 17:47