"Failed to install Python dependencies into penv"

9dl · December 8, 2025, 9:22pm

I am getting the following error every time PlatformIO tries to build anything:

Error: Failed to install Python dependencies (exit code: 2)
Error: Failed to install Python dependencies into penv

The error happens with any project, even a simple “esp32dev” test project using the official espressif32 platform. PlatformIO is unable to install its Python dependencies
into the virtual environment (penv) under any situation (my guess).

System details:

Operating System: Windows 11 x64
Python Version: 3.10.0
Verified by:
python --version → Python 3.10.0
py --version → Python 3.10.0
pip --version → pip 21.2.3 (Python 3.10)
PlatformIO Core Version: 6.1.18 (installed via “pip install platformio” and installer script)
PlatformIO Core Executable:
C:\Users\joine\.platformio\penv\Scripts\platformio.exe
Python inside PlatformIO’s penv:
C:\Users\joine\.platformio\penv\Scripts\python.exe

Full list of things I already tried:

Uninstalled PlatformIO completely with “pip uninstall platformio”
Deleted the entire folder: C:\Users\joine\.platformio
Reinstalled PlatformIO fresh with “pip install platformio” and installer script
Removed Python 3.13 from the system
Installed Python 3.10.0 cleanly and added it to PATH
Verified that Python, pip, and py all point to Python 3.10 and not Python 3.13
Confirmed that “pio --version” works and PlatformIO Core is functional
Confirmed that “pio system info” shows valid Python executable inside penv

Problem summary:
PlatformIO successfully creates penv, but fails when installing the Python dependencies into that environment.
The error always happens, no matter which project or which platform I use. The error message does not include
a detailed traceback, only:

Error: Failed to install Python dependencies (exit code: 2)
Error: Failed to install Python dependencies into penv
project from building.

maxgerhardt · December 8, 2025, 9:36pm

What’s the platformio.ini?

9dl · December 8, 2025, 9:56pm

[common]
platform = espressif32
board = esp32-s3-devkitc-1
framework = arduino
monitor_speed = 115200
board_build.filesystem = littlefs
board_upload.flash_size = 16MB
board_build.partitions = partitions_16mb.csv
lib_deps =
    NimBLE-Arduino@^1.4.3
    adafruit/Adafruit NeoPixel@^1.15.1
    bblanchon/ArduinoJson@^7.3.1
    nickgammon/Regexp@^0.1.0
build_flags =
    -D USE_NIMBLE
    -D CORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=0
monitor_filters = esp32_exception_decoder

[env:standard]
extends = common
board = esp32-s3-devkitc-1
build_flags =
    ${common.build_flags}
    -D STANDARD
lib_deps =
    ${common.lib_deps}

9dl · December 8, 2025, 9:56pm

It worked before but after reseting my PC somehow it started this weird stuff

9dl · December 9, 2025, 1:40pm

Would be great if anyone could help, i sadly cant work on my projects anymore…

maxgerhardt · December 9, 2025, 1:55pm

All references I’m seeing to this are from PIOArduino (the espressif32 fork that has a more up-to-date Arduino core etc.), not from the official espressif32 platform.

In fact it’s printed right there

github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32

builder/penv_setup.py

db0986558


      
          except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
              print(f"Error: Failed to install Python dependencies (exit code: {e.returncode})")
              return False

So that contradicts

Are you sure you have:

Installed the “PlatformIO IDE” extension in VSCode, not the PIOArduino extension?
If you want to use the official espressif32 platform, write platform = espressif32@6.12.0 instead of platform = espressif32 into your platformio.ini?

9dl · December 9, 2025, 6:43pm

oh gosh you are right, after using platform = espressif32@6.12.0 it finally worked but now i have compiling issues since like you said i used a more newer version of arduino… is there any work around like almost every file has a error? thanks for the help sorry

maxgerhardt · December 9, 2025, 6:48pm

Please file an issue in https://github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32/issues if PIOArduino throws that Failed to install Python dependencies into penv error. Sadly the exception doesn’t print the exact cause (or the output from the command it tried…), so we can’t further analyze it.

Also make sure to fullfill the requirements. You definitely need git installed.

9dl · December 9, 2025, 6:58pm

I checked their github and saw tons of open issues with that same error, im guessing its nothing new, tried also using some few old versions which also dosnt work right so weird honestly, but thank you so much and yes got git and all the requirements installed, i guess i need to recode some files, hope i dont have any big stuff gone. but thank you so much really helpful atleast i now have a different issue to work on haha

maxgerhardt · December 9, 2025, 7:00pm

Where? There are only 4 open issues. The only direct reference to the error that I can find is

github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32

stable pioarduino fails to compile components since idf was bumped to 5.5.1

opened 04:08PM - 13 Sep 25 UTC

closed 11:11AM - 14 Sep 25 UTC

jnischler

Windows issue Unable to reproduce

First of all thanks for this awesome work! ### PROBLEM DESCRIPTION Since the re…lease of 5.5.1 some idf components are no longer working with 5.5.0. For example: espressif/esp_wifi_remote -> this depends on wpa_supplicant and supplicant was changed --> https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/commit/95e3ea8f50a70b8cdd318c10603ad9f4939acf64 --> https://github.com/espressif/esp-wifi-remote/blob/main/components/esp_wifi_remote/idf_v5.5/include/esp_eap_client_remote_api.h#L37 and even older versions have been changed to support the new 5.5.1 types: https://github.com/espressif/esp-wifi-remote/blob/wifi_remote-v0.16.0/components/esp_wifi_remote/idf_v5.5/include/esp_eap_client_remote_api.h This makes it impossible to use 5.5.0 together with some components. And as pioarduino uses 5.5.0 it makes it also impossible to use pioarduino currently. The develop branch is already using 5.5.1 but we are unable to build our project using develop. pio run -v fails with: Error: Failed to install Python dependencies (exit code: 2) Error: Failed to install Python dependencies into penv -> could you give me an hint why installing deps is failing with the develop branch ? ### TO REPRODUCE - create a project with the current stable version 5.5.0 - create file: "# src/idf_component.yml" and add: espressif/esp_wifi_remote: "^1.0.0" as a dependencies - build ### EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR I don't understand why espressif made such a "massive" change with just a minor version bump ... We should bump to 5.5.1 asap. ### SCREENSHOTS <img width="2091" height="585" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/22268c1c-26f0-4322-a535-22556c076052" /> ### ADDITIONAL CONTEXT **(Please, remember to close the issue when the problem has been addressed)** Thank you very much.

And if you want to use Pioarduino, it might be worth a try to install the PIOArduino extension instead of the PlatformIO IDE extension in VSCode, after of course deleting the entire .platformio folder again.

sblantipodi · December 10, 2025, 8:00pm

same issue here, pioarduino is unusable today

9dl · December 11, 2025, 6:09am

After talking to a PIOArduino moderator, he told me to first uninstall the PlatformIO folders and everything related, and then install the PIOArduino extension in VS Code. The extension installs all the required components that were probably missing when using the platform link or whatever.
But it worked after installing it through VS Code, I could use it in my IDE of choice (CLion). I had to recode most of the project since I now have the latest version of PIOArduino, with (I think) Arduino 3 or whatever, but yeah.

sivar2311 · December 11, 2025, 6:49am

You should be aware of the Arduino framework version you are using.

You’ll see the the current version when you build the project:

You can select a specific version in the “platformio.ini” file by setting the desired version in the platform setting.

See GitHub - sivar2311/platform-espressif32-versions: A list of espressif32-platform versions for PlatformIO / pioarduino

9dl · December 13, 2025, 12:49pm

You are right im using:

framework-arduinoespressif32 @ 3.3.4+sha.b859bdf
framework-arduinoespressif32-libs @ 5.5.0+sha.8410210c9a

sblantipodi · February 9, 2026, 8:47am

this error continue to happen very often,

PlatformIO is becoming unusable…

sivar2311 · February 9, 2026, 9:00am

If you want to get some help, you need to provide little more details like OS, Python version installed, used Editor, PlatformIO or Pioarduino and so on.

sblantipodi · February 9, 2026, 9:20am

The error is well known and reproducible since months,
sometimes it happen, sometimes not.

sometimes GitHub stops responding to PlatformIO tools and PlatformIO became unusable with this error:
“Failed to install Python dependencies into penv”

This issue affect PioArduino too.

sivar2311 · February 9, 2026, 9:32am

Yes, but it is a matter of different combinations like OS etc etc. I don’t have such issues. So let us know more details about your system / components used.

sblantipodi · February 9, 2026, 9:33am

Windows 11 latest update,

platform = https://github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32/releases/download/55.03.36/platform-espressif32.zip

same problem on Linux Fedora/Ubuntu

sivar2311 · February 9, 2026, 9:36am

Does this happen with the original PlatformIO and original Platform espressif32 platform?

Assuming that your using VS Code (not Clion or some other clones)

Again, this seems to be a matter of combinations. Means all the components you are using.

Afaik on linux you must install python3-venv.