Install & Compatibility
Where this runs
tested against v12.19.0 · pip install
no network on importno background threads
Install × environment matrix
Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux
muslpy 3.10–3.95 runs
build_error
glibcpy 3.10–3.95 runs
installs and imports cleanly · install 1.6s · import 0.000s · 19MB
17MB installed
● package 17MB
Code
Verified usage
Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.
sip
✓ from PyQt5 import sip
✗ import sip
The `pyqt5-sip` package provides the underlying support for PyQt5. A typical PyQt5 application implicitly uses `sip` for its C++/Python bindings. This quickstart demonstrates a basic PyQt5 window, confirming that `pyqt5-sip` is correctly installed and supporting your PyQt5 environment.
import sys
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication, QLabel, QWidget
from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt
# This simple PyQt5 app implicitly relies on pyqt5-sip
# for its underlying C++/Python bindings.
def main():
app = QApplication(sys.argv)
window = QWidget()
window.setWindowTitle("PyQt5 SIP Check")
window.setGeometry(100, 100, 300, 200)
label = QLabel("Hello, PyQt5 with SIP!", window)
label.setAlignment(Qt.AlignCenter)
label.setGeometry(0, 0, 300, 200)
window.show()
sys.exit(app.exec_())
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
Debug
Known issues
breakingWhen upgrading PyQt5 to version 5.14.0 or later, applications might encounter `ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'PyQt5.sip'`. This is due to changes in how the `sip` module is packaged and located within the library.fixEnsure `PyQt5-sip` is explicitly installed via `pip install PyQt5-sip`. If direct access to the `sip` module is required, import it as `import sip` instead of `from PyQt5 import sip`.
affects: PyQt5 >= 5.14.0
gotchaBuilding `pyqt5-sip` or PyQt5 from source on Windows requires a compatible C++ compiler, specifically Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater (often obtained via 'Microsoft C++ Build Tools').fixInstall the 'Microsoft C++ Build Tools' which includes the necessary compiler.
affects: All versions when building from source on Windows
gotchaNewer versions of SIP (and consequently `pyqt5-sip`) have increased their minimum Python version requirement. `pyqt5-sip` 12.18.0 requires Python >= 3.10.fixEnsure your Python environment is version 3.10 or later.
affects: SIP >= 6.9.0, pyqt5-sip >= 12.18.0
deprecatedThe `sipconfig` module, previously used for configuring SIP bindings, is considered outdated. For developers creating C++ bindings, the modern approach involves `sip-build` and `PyQt-builder`.fixMigrate binding generation projects to use `sip-build` and `PyQt-builder` for a more robust and up-to-date build process.
affects: All versions using older binding generation workflows
Upgrade
Version history
12.19.0latest on PyPI · released Aug 2, 2026
Audit
Dependencies
PyQt5requiredProvides the Python bindings for Qt, which pyqt5-sip supports.
pythonrequiredRuntime environment. Requires Python >= 3.10.
siprequiredThe core SIP binding generator and runtime module; pyqt5-sip is the PyQt5-specific distribution of this module.