---
title: "Why Does a Python Multiprocessing Script Work on Linux but Fail on Windows?"  
description: "Why Does a Python Multiprocessing Script Work on Linux but Fail on Windows?"  
author: "Davide Romano"  
published: 2026-10-15  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/117557/why-does-a-python-multiprocessing-script-work-on-linux-but-fail-on-windows  
category: "Mix Category"  
tags: ["Python", "Coding", "troubleshooting"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Why Does a Python Multiprocessing Script Work on Linux but Fail on Windows?

I have a small Python script that starts a worker process. It runs as expected on Linux, but on Windows it appears to start the script again inside the child process and then fails with a bootstrapping error.

Here’s the simplified pattern I’m using:

```python
from multiprocessing import Process

def work():
    print("Worker started")

# Starting a process at module level may run again when Windows imports this file.
worker = Process(target=work)
worker.start()
```

Is the difference mainly down to how Windows starts child processes, or could something else cause this behavior? I’d like to understand the **Windows multiprocessing startup** rules before adapting a larger script.


---

Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/117557/why-does-a-python-multiprocessing-script-work-on-linux-but-fail-on-windows

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