---
title: "Why Can Python Import a Package in One Terminal but Not Another?"  
description: "Why Can Python Import a Package in One Terminal but Not Another?"  
author: "Gabriela Gómez"  
published: 2026-10-21  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/118019/why-can-python-import-a-package-in-one-terminal-but-not-another  
category: "Mix Category"  
tags: ["Python", "Coding", "troubleshooting"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Why Can Python Import a Package in One Terminal but Not Another?

I can run a Python script from my editor, but the same file fails with `ModuleNotFoundError` when I launch it from a terminal. Both runs appear to use Python 3, and the package is installed according to `pip`.

Could the editor be using a different interpreter or a separate **[Python virtual environment](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34393/what-is-python-virtual-environment)**? I’m trying to work out which details to compare first—such as the executable path, shell activation, or where the package was installed—before reinstalling anything. What’s the quickest way to confirm whether the terminal is using the **system interpreter** or the environment selected in the editor?


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/118019/why-can-python-import-a-package-in-one-terminal-but-not-another

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