Django Import Error: No module named apps

I just checked out a project with git. The project structure is

project
apps
myapp
settings
__init__.py
__init__.py
manage.py


There are other directories and files, but I think those are the important ones.

When I run the server I get

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:/Dev/project/apps/manage.py", line 10, in <module>
execute_from_command_line(sys.argv)
File "C:Python27libsite-packagesdjangocoremanagement__init__.py", line 385, in execute_from_command_line
utility.execute()
File "C:Python27libsite-packagesdjangocoremanagement__init__.py", line 345, in execute
settings.INSTALLED_APPS
File "C:Python27libsite-packagesdjangoconf__init__.py", line 46, in __getattr__
self._setup(name)
File "C:Python27libsite-packagesdjangoconf__init__.py", line 42, in _setup
self._wrapped = Settings(settings_module)
File "C:Python27libsite-packagesdjangoconf__init__.py", line 98, in __init__
% (self.SETTINGS_MODULE, e)
ImportError: Could not import settings 'apps.myapp.settings' (Is it on sys.path? Is there an import error in the settings file?): No module named apps.myapp.settings


When running manage.py check I get ImportError: No module named apps. so I guess the problem has nothing to do with my setting module but with my apps directory.
I'm not sure why it can't find my module apps, because project is on my sys.path and the direcory apps obviously exists. As I'm not very experienced as a Python developer I don't find a solution myself.

manage.py check

ImportError: No module named apps.

sys.path

apps

8 Answers
8

You need to add an empty __init__.py (4 underscores in total) file in the apps folder for it to be recognized by Python as package.

__init__.py

apps

Have a look at the documentation for more informations.

__init__.py

Note that in Django 1.9 there is a module called django.apps

Avoiding name clashes with built-in modules is generally advised

If you've used the django-admin startapp myapp command, it creates this file: myapp/apps.py.

django-admin startapp myapp

myapp/apps.py

It could be conflicting with your apps/ module folder. A hidden apps.pyc file could be in your myapp/ folder.

apps/

apps.pyc

myapp/

Try removing these:

project/apps/myapp/apps.py

project/apps/myapp/apps.pyc

Note that in Django 1.9, you can add your app into the INSTALLED_APPS list.

Django 1.9

INSTALLED_APPS

If your app name is app and you have created models in it, then go to the settings.py file and add your app:

app

settings.py

INSTALLED_APPS = [
...
'app'
]


This can also happen if you installed your app in settings.py in your main project folder, before running this:

settings.py

python manage.py startapp [app-name]


Comment it out, create the app (should work now), then put the line back into the settings.py file and continue on.

settings.py

If you use this command to start an app:

django-admin startapp appexample


...then, the AppexampleConfig class should not be listed in the settings.py file.

AppexampleConfig

settings.py

Just add the app name (e.g. appexample) in INSTALLED_APPS list. Avoid using: appexample.app.AppexampleConfig.

appexample

INSTALLED_APPS

appexample.app.AppexampleConfig

Usually, the AppexampleConfig class is a subclass of the django.apps.Appconfig class that represents a Django application and its configuration. It just defines the name class attribute and sets its value to Appexample.

AppexampleConfig

django.apps.Appconfig

Appexample

Command: python manage.py startapp app_name

python manage.py startapp app_name

Class name must be the same as app_name in models.py file and then add your app_name in the INSTALLED_APPS list in settings.py.

app_name

models.py

app_name

INSTALLED_APPS

settings.py

First, check your manage.py and make sure it has the correct reference to myapp.

manage.py

myapp

...apps/myapp/manage.py

...
if __name__ == "__main__":
os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "myapp.settings")
...


If the settings are correct, check the Python interpreter. If you're using virtualenv, errors can occur when you use the global Python instead of the virtual environment. The use of global Python can be caused by improperly setting up your IDE, user error or incorrect bin/bash in manage.py.

manage.py

To make sure manage.py is running on the virtual env, check the first line in manage.py. By default the file reads:

manage.py

manage.py

#!/usr/bin python


Change that to:

#!/path/to/virtualenv/bin python


Now, check the Terminal and what Python version it's using. Then, activate the virtualenv:

[user@pc] #: source /path/to/virtualenv/bin/activate
(venv) [user@pc] #: pip list


Confirm Django is installed. If it is and it's still not working correctly, then upgrade it with pip:

pip

(venv) [user@pc] #: pip install --upgrade django


If none of the above works even though the Python version is correct, you're using the right Python environment and manage.py is set up correctly, then that means the error is somewhere else.

manage.py

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