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

Question

I am running Ubuntu 10.10, and I installed Python 3.2 today. The system is already running Python 2.6.

I typed idle3.2 in the terminal and it gave me:

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

So I searched on Stack Overflow (and in some other places) for a solution, I installed python-tk, I rechecked that I have tclsh on the system, but I still can't manage to open idle3.2.

Any input would be appreciated.

score 10 · Answer 1 · answered May 28 '12 at 04:55

10

On OSX, this can be resolved with macports by installing the python tkinter package for your python version. In my case, with python 2.7, I ran on the terminal:

sudo port install py27-tkinter

change the "27" to your python version number.

answered May 28 '12 at 04:55

beibei2

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How can I do this, if I don't have sudo rights? Thanks. – tommy.carstensen Nov 02 '14 at 12:08
Don't forgot that if you are using TKinter, you will require an X11 server as well. XQuartz (X11 for Mac OS) is also in MacPorts as the xorg-server. – stands2reason Oct 18 '15 at 13:44

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 01 '12 at 14:43

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On Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install idle

Choose one from

idle
idle3
idle-python2.6
idle-python2.7
idle-python3.1
idle-python3.2

for your python version.

edited Aug 01 '12 at 14:43

Josh Darnell

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answered Aug 01 '12 at 11:16

Andrew

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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 15 '12 at 07:19

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The problem is caused by the version between python and idle not matching. U can check your python version by typing : python Then sudo aptget install the right idle version same with your python version

answered Dec 15 '12 at 07:19

ronando_lu

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score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 28 '14 at 15:59

I ran into the same error message when installing python3.4 on Fedora 20. The problem was that tk-devel was not installed during the python configure/make. The explicit steps to do this correctly are

download and extract python3.4 from python.org https://www.python.org/downloads/

Find and install the right tkinter and tk-devel:

yum search tkinter

yum install python3-tkinter-3.3.2-17.fc20.x86_64

yum search tk-devel

yum install tk-devel.x86_64

AFTER these are onboard, cd into the python3.4 package directory and run the configure; make, make install process.

I spent too much time resolving this issue. Hopefully this post will help may others to a quick resolution.

PS stackoverflow is awesome. If google brought you to this article, spend some time and surf around the site.

Not sure why you got downvoted. Worked for me on Scientific Linux 6. — erik, Dec 02 '15 at 05:47

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 05 '16 at 18:14

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On my arch linux system I had the same problem easily solved by typing

yaourt tkinter

and installing the first package community/python-pmw 2.0.1-2 [installed]

answered Jan 05 '16 at 18:14

artemis_clyde

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score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Jun 14 '11 at 02:29

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If you installed python-tk and the system is running python 2.6 then it is most likely that you installed Tkinter for python 2.6. Try installing python3-tk.

answered Jun 14 '11 at 02:29

Tnelsond

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score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 19 '11 at 19:15

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you need to install tk or tk-dev packages for ubuntu.

answered Dec 19 '11 at 19:15

Victor Dodon

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Aug 27 '13 at 21:39

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Type "idle-python2.6" in the terminal..it worked for me

answered Aug 27 '13 at 21:39

Stealthman

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Please include an explanation supporting your answer. – rgettman Aug 27 '13 at 21:57
That might be the case for a very particular combination of Python and an OS. If tkinter is not installed, it will fail anyway. – jjmerelo Aug 17 '17 at 10:06

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

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