Spyder: Spyder won't launch; Anaconda Navigator won't launch; Anaconda prompt icon disappeared

Created on 28 Oct 2019 · 13Comments · Source: spyder-ide/spyder

Issue Report Checklist

[x] Searched the issues page for similar reports
[x] Read the relevant sections of the Spyder Troubleshooting Guide and followed its advice
[x] Reproduced the issue after updating with conda update spyder (or pip, if not using Anaconda)
[x] Could not reproduce inside jupyter qtconsole (if console-related)
[x] Tried basic troubleshooting (if a bug/error)
- [x] Restarted Spyder
- [x] Reset preferences with spyder --reset
- [x] Reinstalled the latest version of Anaconda
- [x] Tried the other applicable steps from the Troubleshooting Guide
[x] Completed the Problem Description, Steps to Reproduce and Version sections below

Problem Description

What steps reproduce the problem?

I just tried to start spyder/anaconda navigator in the normal way, but to no avail.

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

Expected output:

Spyder can be started from windows
Spyder can be started from anaconda prompt
Anaconda Navigator can be started from windows
Anaconda Prompt displays with proper icon like windows command line
Every time anaconda prompt is started, the 1st line shows: "The system cannot find the path specified."

I see instead:

Start Spyder from windows won't work
Start Spyder from anaconda prompt won't work
Anaconda Navigator cannot be started from windows
Anaconda Prompt displays with a white icon
The Anaconda prompt should display user folder and prompt, instead of point 5 above

Paste Traceback/Error Below (if applicable)

C:\Users\u22y33>spyder
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\qtpy\__init__.py", line 204, in <module>
    from PySide import __version__ as PYSIDE_VERSION  # analysis:ignore
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'PySide'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\Scripts\spyder-script.py", line 10, in <module>
    sys.exit(main())
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\app\start.py", line 186, in main
    from spyder.app import mainwindow
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\app\mainwindow.py", line 48, in <module>
    requirements.check_qt()
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\requirements.py", line 41, in check_qt
    import qtpy
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\qtpy\__init__.py", line 210, in <module>
    raise PythonQtError('No Qt bindings could be found')
qtpy.PythonQtError: No Qt bindings could be found

I also tried what I could from post: https://github.com/spyder-ide/spyder/issues/3545.
None resolved the problem.

Versions

Spyder version: 3.2.1
Python version: 3.7.4
Qt version: 5.12.5
PyQt version: 5.12.3
Operating System name/version: Windows 10

Dependencies

PASTE DEPENDENCIES HERE

I don't know where to find Help>Dependencies.

FYI, I added anaconda to PATH so that it can be run with Build in Sublime Text.

Hopefully, the anaconda service can be soon back to normal again. Thx in advance!

Source

clarencess3

Most helpful comment

My problem is resolved. I have the following to share. It may be useful:

A. Problem:

Anaconda-navigator and Spyder (may be other apps also, I didn't try) stopped working (they used to work without any issue before). System - Windows 10 64bit (Anaconda 2019.10)

Error message for spyder:
(base) C:\Users\panicker>spyder

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\qtpy_init_.py", line 204, in
from PySide import version as PYSIDE_VERSION # analysis:ignore
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'PySide'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\Scripts\spyder-script.py", line 10, in
sys.exit(main())
File "C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\app\start.py", line 201, in main
from spyder.app import mainwindow
File "C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\app\mainwindow.py", line 52, in
requirements.check_qt()
File "C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\requirements.py", line 41, in check_qt
import qtpy
File "C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\qtpy_init_.py", line 210, in
raise PythonQtError('No Qt bindings could be found')
qtpy.PythonQtError: No Qt bindings could be found

B. Probable reason for the problem:
Installed PyQt5 by... pip install PyQt5

C. Attempts to fix the problem:
Approach 1.
a. Uninstalled anaconda (2019.10). (windows control panel, add remove programs, uninstall)
b. Newer version, 2020.02 was available and hence downloaded the same and installed (installed with default/ recommended options)

z. Outcome - problem persisted, but able to launch both Anaconda Navigator and spyder in the admin mode.

Approach 2.

a. Uninstalled anaconda (2020.02) (windows control panel, add remove programs, uninstall)
b. Old package 2019.10 installed. (installed with default/ recommended options)
Outcome - problem persisted, but able to launch both Anaconda Navigator and spyder in the admin mode.

Approach 3. Did the following for clean uninstall as given in the anaconda documentation:
a. > 'conda install anaconda-clean' (Anaconda prompt was working)
b. > 'anaconda-clean --yes'
c. Uninstall anaconda (windows control panel, add remove programs, uninstall)
d. Entries (anaconda, spyder, python etc...) in windows registry removed
e. Installed Newer version, 2020.02 (installed with default/ recommended options)

z. Outcome - problem persisted, but able to launch both Anaconda Navigator and spyder in the admin mode.

D. Approach 3 - Solution that worked:

a. > 'conda install anaconda-clean' (Anaconda prompt was working)
b. > 'anaconda-clean --yes'
c. Uninstalled anaconda (2020.02) (windows control panel, add remove programs, uninstall)
d. Entries (anaconda, spyder, python etc...) in windows registry removed

e. Deleted files and folders persisting after uninstall. - Launch windows file explorer, go to root directory under which anaconda was installed ), In my case C: (windows) drive. Search with key words anaconda, python, spyder etc. Folders and files persisting after anaconda installation were listed in the search results. Delete all persisting files and folders

f. Installed Newer version, 2020.02 (installed with default/ recommended options)

z. Outcome - problem resolved.

sreek011 on 2 May 2020

👍3

All 13 comments

Qt version: 5.12.5
PyQt version: 5.12.3

This is your problem. If you installed those version with pip, then you corrupted your Anaconda installation and now you have to reinstall it.

Please avoid to do that in the future, not only in the base env but in any conda env.

ccordoba12 on 28 Oct 2019

Hi @ccordoba12 , what do you mean by "reinstall it"? Do I need to uninstall & reinstall Anaconda as a whole or only the problematic packages?

My anaconda broke when I installed a newer beta version of spyder using pip, in an attampt to get the auto-fold functionality.
From then on, I did multiple uninstall/reinstall of Anaconda and tried out what was suggested in these posts, but the problem gotten worse and still persisted.

FYI, after reading the error message I also tried installing PySide packages (PySide 2 can be installed but triggered a Keyerror when starting spyder, Pyside cannot be installed).

Hopefully, you can give me detailed instruction to solve my problem. Thanks a lot!

clarencess3 on 29 Oct 2019

Do I need to uninstall & reinstall Anaconda as a whole or only the problematic packages?

As a whole.

My anaconda broke when I installed a newer beta version of spyder using pip,

We describe very clearly how to install our betas using conda, for example here:

https://github.com/spyder-ide/spyder/releases

So I don't understand why you decided to use pip, even against our loud and emphatic warnings.

From then on, I did multiple uninstall/reinstall of Anaconda and tried out what was suggested in these posts, but the problem gotten worse and still persisted.

Sorry to hear that. Please try to remove every trace of Anaconda related packages in your system and try again. I don't know what other advise to give you, sorry.

FYI, after reading the error message I also tried installing PySide packages (PySide 2 can be installed but triggered a Keyerror when starting spyder, Pyside cannot be installed).

This makes no sense, please don't try to do that.

ccordoba12 on 29 Oct 2019

Hi @ccordoba12 , I did as you said, completely uninstalled and reinstalled anaconda.
But all 5 problems persist as they did before after reinstallation.

I still want to use anaconda without switching my laptop, so please help! Thx!

Here are the package versions:

packages in environment at C:\Users\MyUserName\AppData\Local\anaconda3:

clarencess3 on 29 Oct 2019

FYI, I added anaconda to PATH so that it can be run with Build in Sublime Text.

This looks really bad too. Please revert any modifications you've done to PATH.

ccordoba12 on 29 Oct 2019

But I managed to install a working version of anaconda with PATH option checked on another PC. It is also the only way to use anaconda build system in Sublime Text 3. I do not think this is a viable solution. It is a pity that I have to reinstall the whole system on my PC.

clarencess3 on 29 Oct 2019

Once you install pyqt5 in any environment, you break the whole Anaconda. That's why we warn against using pip to install Spyder all the time.

ccordoba12 on 29 Oct 2019

Just for the record, on Fedora 31 when I lunch Spyder after installing through pip, I get this error.
I solved this by:
sudo dnf remove PyQt5
and then
pip3 install PyQt5

It seems that the system PyQt5 conflicts with the pip one.

suokunlong on 4 Feb 2020

I understand from the thread that we should not install pyqt5 using pip in conda environment. Does this also men, we should not use pyqt5 in any of our code run in conda environment??

kvijaysai on 27 Apr 2020

Does this also men, we should not use pyqt5 in any of our code run in conda environment??

Yes, it does, but only on Windows.

ccordoba12 on 27 Apr 2020

My problem is resolved. I have the following to share. It may be useful:

A. Problem:

Anaconda-navigator and Spyder (may be other apps also, I didn't try) stopped working (they used to work without any issue before). System - Windows 10 64bit (Anaconda 2019.10)

Error message for spyder:
(base) C:\Users\panicker>spyder

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

B. Probable reason for the problem:
Installed PyQt5 by... pip install PyQt5

z. Outcome - problem persisted, but able to launch both Anaconda Navigator and spyder in the admin mode.

Approach 2.

z. Outcome - problem persisted, but able to launch both Anaconda Navigator and spyder in the admin mode.

D. Approach 3 - Solution that worked:

f. Installed Newer version, 2020.02 (installed with default/ recommended options)

z. Outcome - problem resolved.

sreek011 on 2 May 2020

👍3

Thanks for letting us know about @sreek011!

ccordoba12 on 2 May 2020

FYI, after reading the error message I also tried installing PySide packages (PySide 2 can be installed but triggered a Keyerror when starting spyder, Pyside cannot be installed).

This makes no sense, please don't try to do that.

When qtpy fails to find a Qt binding is defaults to printing that module PySide was not found.