PyCharm Common Bugs/FAQs

Running into issues not on this page? Come chat with course staff in-person after class, during office hours, or look out for an announcement about a PyCharm install help session. Also, check out Ed (under the PyCharm category) or make a new post if you're still stuck!

Can I use some other version of Python?

Our strong recommendation is to use Python 3.12 or later, which can be installed even if you've already got other versions of Python. You may run into issues later in the class if you're using an older version.

Can I use an editor that isn't PyCharm?

If there's another environment that you're more comfortable with, you may use it, but the course staff will only provide support for issues in PyCharm. You must not modify any configuration files provided in assignment starter code.

When I try to run my code, I'm getting an error saying can't open file image-grid.py: No such file or directory! What does this mean?

This most often happens when you open the incorrect file or folder in PyCharm. In this case, make sure to open the image-grid folder that directly contains image-grid.py, rather than image-grid.py itself or a folder containing image-grid. On a Windows computer, you may have a folder called image-grid with another folder inside it called image-grid. Make sure to open the inner folder.

To correct this error, open the 'File' menu and click 'Open.' Then, navigate to the correct image-grid folder and open it.

I'm getting the error 'Python was not found; run without arguments to install from the Microsoft Store, or disable this shortcut from Settings > Manage App Execution Aliases.'

Quit out of all PyCharm windows. Go into your computer settings (not PyCharm settings) and search for "Manage App Execution Aliases." Click on this, and then you should see a page with lot of switches for various applications. Scroll to the bottom, and turn off the switches for python.exe.

If you're still getting this error, try using "py" or "python3" instead of "python" when you enter your command into the terminal - if this works, you should use "py" or "python3" in your terminal commands for the rest of the quarter.

I'm getting a 'No Python Interpreter configured for the project' message when I open a file! What should I do?

This is likely caused by an issue with how you set up the interpreter. To fix this, click 'Configure Python Interpreter,' and set up the interpreter by following the instructions in section 2: Installing PyCharm on the Installing Pycharm handout.

I'm on a Mac and Pycharm won't open!

Note that newer Mac computers have an Apple Silicon Chip, whereas older Macs have Intel Chips. To check which you have, go to the Apple symbol in the upper-left corner of your computer, click "About This Mac," and on that screen, see whether your chip is Apple or Intel.

Un-install the version of PyCharm you currently have, and back on the PyCharm download page, click the .dmg dropdown and select either Apple or Intel based on what chip your computer uses.

A dropdown on the PyCharm webpage that allows you to select which Mac community version to install: 'Intel or Apple Silicon'

I'm geting an unexpected popup about Licenses!


Popup on a user's screen with options to activate PyCharm, start a PyCharm trial, and the option buy a license.

You might have downloaded the professional version of PyCharm, which is paid. Un-install PyCharm, and when you re-download it, scroll down to the community version on the PyCharm site and download that version.

My project folder keeps closing, so that I can't view my files in the Project panel!

Try this:

  1. Close PyCharm completely (quitting out of all windows).
  2. Open your computer's System Settings. This is your computer's settings, not PyCharm's settings.
  3. Go to 'Privacy and Security.'
  4. Go to 'Files and Folders.'
  5. Scroll down and expand 'PyCharm CE.'
  6. Turn on any switch that wasn't previously on.
    7. Three switches turned on, Desktop, Documents, and Downloads

I'm getting an error window saying "This installation contains JetBrains Runtime 11 which does not support Microsoft Windows 32-bit version"! What should I do?

Try installing this version of PyCharm instead.

I'm on a Mac and I'm getting a message saying The default interactive shell is now zsh. To update your account to use zsh, please run `chsh -s /bin/zsh. What should I do?

That's just an innocuous message, don't worry about it!

I get the following error when I try to run my code from the terminal DEPRECATION WARNING: The system version of Tk is deprecated and may be removed in a future release. Please don't rely on it. Set TK_SILENCE_DEPRECATION=1 to suppress this warning. What should I do?

Do you have the most current version of Python? Try:

  1. Closing PyCharm completely (quitting out of all PyCharm windows).
  2. Returning to the Installing Pycharm handout and following section 1: Installing Python.
  3. Re-opening the project in PyCharm and running your code again.

How do I update to the most current version of Python?

  1. Close PyCharm completely (quitting out of all PyCharm windows).
  2. Return to the Installing Pycharm handout and following section 1: Installing Python.
  3. Re-open the project in PyCharm and run your code again.

Course FAQs will be updated as we receive questions.