[GH-ISSUE #191] Cannot install package using local pip #80

New issue

Closed

opened 2026-03-02 03:59:54 +03:00 by kerem · 2 comments

kerem commented

2026-03-02 03:59:54 +03:00

Owner

Originally created by @justcosmic1 on GitHub (Sep 29, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/ElDavoo/wa-crypt-tools/issues/191

I have tried following the instructions to install via pip.
First of all I got this:

$ python -m pip install wa-crypt-tools
Command 'python' not found, did you mean:
  command 'python3' from deb python3
  command 'python' from deb python-is-python3

So I changed it to python3 and got this:

python3 -m pip install wa-crypt-tools
error: externally-managed-environment

× This environment is externally managed
╰─> To install Python packages system-wide, try apt install
    python3-xyz, where xyz is the package you are trying to
    install.
    
    If you wish to install a non-Debian-packaged Python package,
    create a virtual environment using python3 -m venv path/to/venv.
    Then use path/to/venv/bin/python and path/to/venv/bin/pip. Make
    sure you have python3-full installed.
    
    If you wish to install a non-Debian packaged Python application,
    it may be easiest to use pipx install xyz, which will manage a
    virtual environment for you. Make sure you have pipx installed.
    
    See /usr/share/doc/python3.11/README.venv for more information.

I also am not clear if the install command requires you to download the script locally first or if that is done during the installation process; but I have tried both ways with the same result (opening terminal in unzipped wa-crypt-tools folder).
I am new to python, would appreciate any help.
Many thanks.
PS I am on MX Linux 23.6 Booted with SysV.init

Originally created by @justcosmic1 on GitHub (Sep 29, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/ElDavoo/wa-crypt-tools/issues/191 I have tried following the instructions to install via pip. First of all I got this: ``` $ python -m pip install wa-crypt-tools Command 'python' not found, did you mean: command 'python3' from deb python3 command 'python' from deb python-is-python3 ``` So I changed it to python3 and got this: ``` python3 -m pip install wa-crypt-tools error: externally-managed-environment × This environment is externally managed ╰─> To install Python packages system-wide, try apt install python3-xyz, where xyz is the package you are trying to install. If you wish to install a non-Debian-packaged Python package, create a virtual environment using python3 -m venv path/to/venv. Then use path/to/venv/bin/python and path/to/venv/bin/pip. Make sure you have python3-full installed. If you wish to install a non-Debian packaged Python application, it may be easiest to use pipx install xyz, which will manage a virtual environment for you. Make sure you have pipx installed. See /usr/share/doc/python3.11/README.venv for more information. ``` ---------------- I also am not clear if the install command requires you to download the script locally first or if that is done during the installation process; but I have tried both ways with the same result (opening terminal in unzipped wa-crypt-tools folder). I am new to python, would appreciate any help. Many thanks. PS I am on MX Linux 23.6 Booted with SysV.init

kerem

2026-03-02 03:59:54 +03:00

closed this issue
added the
invalid
label

kerem commented

2026-03-02 03:59:55 +03:00

Author

Owner

@justcosmic1 commented on GitHub (Sep 29, 2025):

OK - So after researching this, it appears there is an assumption that the potential user of wa-crypt-tools is familiar with using python, which for me, is not the case:
So I am doing my best to learn what I need to make this work; I haven't succeeded yet but now have an idea of what "should" work.
It maybe could be really helpful in the "Install instructions" to mention that you have to either create a virtual environment, or use pipx in place of pip, (which is what I will try first) to automatically create a virtual environment for you and install the package in it.

Anyway - maybe this can be helpful for someone else, who is not a regular python user, but who wants to decrypt their whatsapp database: I'm sure there are a few out there.

I will comments back again once I have tried the above, to confirm whether or not it works.

@justcosmic1 commented on GitHub (Sep 29, 2025): OK - So after researching this, it appears there is an assumption that the potential user of wa-crypt-tools is familiar with using python, which for me, is not the case: So I am doing my best to learn what I need to make this work; I haven't succeeded yet but now have an idea of what "should" work. It maybe could be really helpful in the "Install instructions" to mention that you have to either create a virtual environment, or use pipx in place of pip, (which is what I will try first) to automatically create a virtual environment for you and install the package in it. Anyway - maybe this can be helpful for someone else, who is not a regular python user, but who wants to decrypt their whatsapp database: I'm sure there are a few out there. I will comments back again once I have tried the above, to confirm whether or not it works.

kerem commented

2026-03-02 03:59:55 +03:00

Author

Owner

@justcosmic1 commented on GitHub (Oct 9, 2025):

I can confirm that installation with Pipx is successful. Now I will see if I can successfully use the tool.
Once I have done that I will mark this as solved.

@justcosmic1 commented on GitHub (Oct 9, 2025): I can confirm that installation with Pipx is successful. Now I will see if I can successfully use the tool. Once I have done that I will mark this as solved.