Macos python 3.9 idle IDLE can't import Tkinter

Question

On my Mac, I install python 3.9 via homebrew. I try to launch idle and get this error:

> idle3

** IDLE can't import Tkinter.
Your Python may not be configured for Tk. **

MacOS: 11.4 Homebrew: 3.1.9-121-g654c78c Python: 3.9.5

Try `brew install python-tk` as mentioned by an answer [here](https://stackoverflow.com/a/66919851/7857466) — progmatico, Jun 05 '21 at 15:16

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 15 '21 at 05:19

This is a Mac-only error, and as per @user3153765 's comment, running

brew install python-tk

will work as long as you have home-brew installed on your machine. If you do not have home-brew, check it out here! It is in my required reading list for all Mac-OS users.

If you decide, for some good reason that I have not thought of, not to use homebrew, you can also fix this with

sudo apt-get install python3-tk

if you have chosen to go the Ubuntu-based package manager route

score -1 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 05 '21 at 21:20

-1

sudo port install py39-tkinter

edited Sep 05 '21 at 21:20

Sven Eberth

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answered Sep 05 '21 at 20:15

Ngoc Nguyen

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Macos python 3.9 idle IDLE can't import Tkinter

2 Answers2