Spyder won't launch; Anaconda Navigator won't launch; Anaconda prompt icon disappeared

Issue Report Checklist

• Searched the issues page for similar reports
• Read the relevant sections of the Spyder Troubleshooting Guide and followed its advice
• Reproduced the issue after updating with conda update spyder (or pip, if not using Anaconda)
• Could not reproduce inside jupyter qtconsole (if console-related)
• Tried basic troubleshooting (if a bug/error)
  • Restarted Spyder
  • Reset preferences with spyder --reset
  • Reinstalled the latest version of Anaconda
  • Tried the other applicable steps from the Troubleshooting Guide
• Completed the Problem Description, Steps to Reproduce and Version sections below

Problem Description

What steps reproduce the problem?

I just tried to start spyder/anaconda navigator in the normal way, but to no avail.

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

Expected output:

1. Spyder can be started from windows
2. Spyder can be started from anaconda prompt
3. Anaconda Navigator can be started from windows
4. Anaconda Prompt displays with proper icon like windows command line
5. Every time anaconda prompt is started, the 1st line shows: “The system cannot find the path specified.”

I see instead:

1. Start Spyder from windows won’t work
2. Start Spyder from anaconda prompt won’t work
3. Anaconda Navigator cannot be started from windows
4. Anaconda Prompt displays with a white icon
5. The Anaconda prompt should display user folder and prompt, instead of point 5 above

Paste Traceback/Error Below (if applicable)

C:\Users\u22y33>spyder
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\qtpy\__init__.py", line 204, in <module>
    from PySide import __version__ as PYSIDE_VERSION  # analysis:ignore
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'PySide'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\Scripts\spyder-script.py", line 10, in <module>
    sys.exit(main())
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\app\start.py", line 186, in main
    from spyder.app import mainwindow
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\app\mainwindow.py", line 48, in <module>
    requirements.check_qt()
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\requirements.py", line 41, in check_qt
    import qtpy
  File "C:\Users\u22y33\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\qtpy\__init__.py", line 210, in <module>
    raise PythonQtError('No Qt bindings could be found')
qtpy.PythonQtError: No Qt bindings could be found

I also tried what I could from post: https://github.com/spyder-ide/spyder/issues/3545. None resolved the problem.

Versions

• Spyder version: 3.2.1
• Python version: 3.7.4
• Qt version: 5.12.5
• PyQt version: 5.12.3
• Operating System name/version: Windows 10

Dependencies

PASTE DEPENDENCIES HERE

I don’t know where to find Help>Dependencies.

FYI, I added anaconda to PATH so that it can be run with Build in Sublime Text.

Hopefully, the anaconda service can be soon back to normal again. Thx in advance!

[sreek011]

My problem is resolved. I have the following to share. It may be useful:

A. Problem:

1. Anaconda-navigator and Spyder (may be other apps also, I didn’t try) stopped working (they used to work without any issue before). System - Windows 10 64bit (Anaconda 2019.10)

2. Error message for spyder: (base) C:\Users\panicker>spyder

Traceback (most recent call last): File “C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\qtpy_init_.py”, line 204, in from PySide import version as PYSIDE_VERSION # analysis:ignore ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘PySide’

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last): File “C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\Scripts\spyder-script.py”, line 10, in sys.exit(main()) File “C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\app\start.py”, line 201, in main from spyder.app import mainwindow File “C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\app\mainwindow.py”, line 52, in requirements.check_qt() File “C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\spyder\requirements.py”, line 41, in check_qt import qtpy File “C:\Users\panicker\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\qtpy_init_.py”, line 210, in raise PythonQtError(‘No Qt bindings could be found’) qtpy.PythonQtError: No Qt bindings could be found

B. Probable reason for the problem: Installed PyQt5 by… pip install PyQt5

C. Attempts to fix the problem: Approach 1. a. Uninstalled anaconda (2019.10). (windows control panel, add remove programs, uninstall) b. Newer version, 2020.02 was available and hence downloaded the same and installed (installed with default/ recommended options)

z. Outcome - problem persisted, but able to launch both Anaconda Navigator and spyder in the admin mode.

Approach 2.

a. Uninstalled anaconda (2020.02) (windows control panel, add remove programs, uninstall) b. Old package 2019.10 installed. (installed with default/ recommended options) Outcome - problem persisted, but able to launch both Anaconda Navigator and spyder in the admin mode.

Approach 3. Did the following for clean uninstall as given in the anaconda documentation: a. > ‘conda install anaconda-clean’ (Anaconda prompt was working) b. > ‘anaconda-clean --yes’ c. Uninstall anaconda (windows control panel, add remove programs, uninstall) d. Entries (anaconda, spyder, python etc…) in windows registry removed e. Installed Newer version, 2020.02 (installed with default/ recommended options)

z. Outcome - problem persisted, but able to launch both Anaconda Navigator and spyder in the admin mode.

D. Approach 3 - Solution that worked:

a. > ‘conda install anaconda-clean’ (Anaconda prompt was working) b. > ‘anaconda-clean --yes’ c. Uninstalled anaconda (2020.02) (windows control panel, add remove programs, uninstall) d. Entries (anaconda, spyder, python etc…) in windows registry removed

e. Deleted files and folders persisting after uninstall. - Launch windows file explorer, go to root directory under which anaconda was installed ), In my case C: (windows) drive. Search with key words anaconda, python, spyder etc. Folders and files persisting after anaconda installation were listed in the search results. Delete all persisting files and folders

f. Installed Newer version, 2020.02 (installed with default/ recommended options)

z. Outcome - problem resolved.

[VK2XXY]

FYI, after reading the error message I also tried installing PySide packages (PySide 2 can be installed but triggered a Keyerror when starting spyder, Pyside cannot be installed).

This makes no sense, please don’t try to do that.

When qtpy fails to find a Qt binding is defaults to printing that module PySide was not found.