Python Install error: "Externallty Managed Environment"

[last updated: 2025-12-20]
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• This error was first encountered attempting to install tools for the ADS1115 16-bit ADC...
  sudo apt update
  sudo apt upgrade
  sudo apt install python3-pip
  sudo pip3 install --upgrade setuptools
  everything worked until this last one, that gave error: externally-managed-environment
  • Surfing and googling revealed the following solution:
    Create a "vitrual environment":
    python -m venv my-venv
    my-venv/bin/pip install [some-python-library]

  • Another recommended approach:
    • Use pipx as an alternative to pip3 if externally-managed-environment error is encountered
      sudo apt install pipx && pipx install [some-python-library]
      If using pipx, you should update $PATH by running:
      pipx ensurepath
    • I used this method to install ptap2 and meshtastic:
      sudo apt install pipx && pipx install pytap2
      pipx ensurepath
      pipx install "meshtastic[cli]"
      pipx ensurepath
      meshtastic --version ... returns 2.7.5

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