python-dotenv

library1.2.3pypypi✓ verified 27d ago

python-dotenv is a Python library that reads key-value pairs from a .env file and sets them as environment variables. The current version is 1.2.2, released in March 2026. The library is actively maintained with regular updates.

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pip install python-dotenv

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · PYTHON-DOTENV

python-dotenv

devopspythonv1.2.3

Install

1.7s avg

Import

56ms

Disk

16MB

Pass rate

10/ 10

Env Coverage10 / 10

glibc

3.9–3.13

musl

3.9–3.13

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v1.2.3 · 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

musl

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 0.0s · import 0.056s · 17.9MB

glibc

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 1.7s · import 0.056s · 18MB

16MB installed

● package 16MB

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

load_dotenv

✓ from dotenv import load_dotenv

✗ import dotenv

The correct import is from dotenv import load_dotenv; importing dotenv directly will not work.

This example demonstrates how to load environment variables from a .env file and access them using os.environ.

from dotenv import load_dotenv import os # Load environment variables from .env file load_dotenv() # Access environment variables SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get('SECRET_KEY', '') DATABASE_PASSWORD = os.environ.get('DATABASE_PASSWORD', '') print(f'SECRET_KEY: {SECRET_KEY}') print(f'DATABASE_PASSWORD: {DATABASE_PASSWORD}')

dotenv --version

Debug

Known issues

breakingDropped support for Python 3.7; minimum required version is now Python 3.10.

fix

Upgrade your Python environment to version 3.10 or higher.

affects: 1.0.0 and later

gotchaImporting dotenv directly instead of from dotenv import load_dotenv will result in ImportError.

fix

Use from dotenv import load_dotenv to import the function correctly.

affects: All versions

gotchaThe load_dotenv function does not override existing environment variables by default.

fix

Pass override=True to load_dotenv() if you want to override existing environment variables.

affects: All versions

gotchaThe dotenv run command now forwards flags directly to the specified command.

fix

Ensure that any flags intended for dotenv run are placed before the command to avoid unintended behavior.

affects: 1.2.2 and later

Upgrade

Version history

1.2.3latest on PyPI · released Aug 16, 2026

Audit

Dependencies

No dependency data recorded yet.

Agent activity

11 hits · last 30 days

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OpenAI (training)

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/theskumar/python-dotenv ↗

packagehttps://pypi.org/project/python-dotenv/ ↗