Ipython console in Spyder stuck on “connecting to

Question

I am new to python and coming from Matlab and I have installed the latest version of Python(x,y) (2.7.9.0) on my Win 8 64 bit PC.

The problem that I have is that, each time I start Spyder, the default IPython console gets stuck on "connecting to kernel". I can see that a new kernel is launched each time because a new .json file appears in the directory ".ipython\profile_default\security". I can access this kernel by opening a new IPython console by clicking on "connect to an existing kernel" and then browsing to find it, then it works fine (except that the variables I create do not appear in the variable explorer). I can also quit the kernel from this new IPython console but this does not solve my problem because when I launch a new IPython console by clicking on "open an IPython console" or restarting Spyder, it still hangs on "connecting to kernel" and creates a new .json file.

The closest issue that I could find on a forum is this one, the only difference being that I do not have the "import sitecustomize" error in the internal console. I have tried uninstalling Python(x,y) and python but to no avail. Any hint would be really appreciated.

Answer 1

Had the same issue. I closed the console window, then opened a new one (CTRL+T) and that fixed it. Problem didn't come back after a restart.

Answer 2

Try typing these 3 lines from the anaconda command prompt:

conda create -n spyder python=2.7 spyder

activate spyder

spyder

Answer 3

I run "Reset Spyder Settings" from the Windows Menu in the Anaconda section.

Answer 4

Another possible solution to this problem is to update your pyzmq library to version 14.6.0 or higher, which should fix this problem in Windows 8.

If you are using Anaconda, you just need to do

conda update pyzmq

to do that.

Answer 5

Had the same problem. At first it couldn't find the kernel. Closing Consol and reopening did not work. However, what did work was closing Spyder and then reopening. Note: I am running from python(x,y), not Anaconda.

Answer 6

A very special thing happened to me, but it raised the same error ("connecting to kernel" freeze on Spyder): a '.' has accidentally slipped into my "pytable.py" file from pandas. Probably I opened it after an error and changed it / saved it accidentally.

So, if you are using anaconda, check if by mistake a file in ...\Continuum\Anaconda\Lib\site-packages was changed ( sort file by date and see if a file was modified today for instance)

After fixing the changed file, everything is back to normal.