pip install access denied on Windows

Question

I am trying to run pip install mitmproxy on Windows, but I keep getting access denied, even with cmd and PowerShell using the Run as Administrator option.

WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied: 'c:\\users\\bruno\\appdata\\local\\temp\\easy_install-0fme6u\\cryptography-0.9.1\\.eggs\\cffi-1.1.2-py2.7-win-amd64.egg\\_cffi_backend.pyd'

How can I make this work?

Answer 1

One additional thing that has not been covered in previous answers and that often cause issues on Windows and stopped me from installing some package despite running as admin is that you get the same permission denied error if there is another program that use some of the files you (or pip install) try to access. This is a really stupid "feature" of Windows that pops up many times, e.g. when trying to move some files.

In addition I have no clue how to figure out which program locks a particular file, so the easiest ting to do is to reboot and do the installation before starting anything, in particular before running e.g. Spyder or any other Python-based software. You can also try to close all programs, but it can be tricky to know which one actually holds a file. For a directory for example, it is enough that you have an Explorer window open at that directory.

Answer 2

I met a similar problem.But the error report is about

[SSL: TLSV1_ALERT_ACCESS_DENIED] tlsv1 alert access denied (_ssl.c:777)

First I tried this https://python-forum.io/Thread-All-pip-install-attempts-are-met-with-SSL-error#pid_28035 ,but seems it couldn't solve my problems,and still repeat the same issue.

And Second if you are working on a business computer,generally it may exist a web content filter(but I can access https://pypi.python.org through browser directly).And solve this issue by adding a proxy server.

For windows,open the Internet properties through IE or Chrome or whatsoever ,then set valid proxy address and port,and this way solve my problems

Or just adding the option pip --proxy [proxy-address]:port install mitmproxy.But you always need to add this option while installing by pypi

The above two solution is alternative for you demand.

Answer 3

In my case, it didn't even work with python -m pip install

What I have done is, from a cmd as administrator:

PsExec.exe -i -s -d cmd.exe

In order to spawn a SYSTEM cmd, then pip install mitmproxy

;)

Answer 4

As, i am installing through anaconda Prompt .In my case, it didn't even work with python -m pip install Then, i add this

python -m pip install <package_name> --user

It works for me.

Like: python -m pip install "numpy-1.15.4+mkl-cp36-cp36m-win_amd64.whl" --user

Note that double quote is not necessary you can give the package name you want to install.

Another you should try that run the Command Prompt as Run as Administrator and then try pip install. It should work either.

Answer 5

Run cmd.exe as an administrator then type:

python -m pip install

Answer 6

The cause in my case was having a jupyter notebook open, which was importing the relevant library; the root cause seems to be windows error due to the file being open / in use (see also @Robert's answer, and the recommendation to reboot).

So another thing to verify is that no other python processes are running.

For me, shutting down the notebook server solved the issue.