import _tkinter # If this fails your Python may not be configured for Tk error in python 3.8

Question

Currently using Ubuntu 20.04 LTS with python3.8.5. Its my first time using ubuntu with absolutely no previous knowledge of terminal.SO,would love to have a detailed answer if possible. Below is terminal output when i try importing tkinter in python3.

>>> import tkinter  
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.8/tkinter/__init__.py", line 36, in <module>
    import _tkinter # If this fails your Python may not be configured for Tk
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_tkinter'
>>> 

I have reinstalled python3 and tkinter using sudo apt.But still it shows same error. When i run the same command in python IDLE it works without any error. I hope this explains my problem clearly, if any other info. is required pls reply. I also tried running the command >>>from tkinter import *

Answer 1

CentOS 8 + Python 3.9.5 following are what i have done：

1st:

yum search tkinter
yum install python39-tkinter.x86_64

2nd:

yum install tk-devel

3rd: cd python3.9.5 source folder

make install

it work in my case

Answer 2

I faced the same issue on Mac . I was using python virtual env . .This command worked for me .

brew install python-tk. 

Answer 3

I had the same issue. Switched from 3.8 to 3.7 and it worked. I'm using PyCharm CE, which makes it easy to switch between interpreters.

Answer 4

Resolved the issue it occurred because the Tkinter was installed for version 3.5 and not for the 3.8 version. For that, I installed the 3.5 version and kept only one version ie 3.8, and installed Tkinter again, and it worked! This is just a workaround to make things work, but the more preferred way is to create a venv and then install the particular versions of python and libraries that are needed.

Answer 5

since I'm still using python 3.9, this code works for me:

brew install python-tk@3.9

if using brew install python-tk brew will install python-tk@3.10 which is key-only