# ImportError: cannot import name 'pinecone'
## The error
```
ImportError: cannot import name 'pinecone'
```
## Causes, in order
1. **Wrong interpreter.** `pip install pinecone` went to one Python and the code runs in another (system python vs venv vs conda). `python -c "import pinecone; print(pinecone.__file__)"` with the exact interpreter that runs the code.
2. **Shadowing.** A file named `pinecone.py` in the working directory or on `sys.path` shadows the installed package. Rename it.
3. **Broken install.** Partial or conflicting installs, especially mixing `pinecone-client` (the ancient v0 package) with `pinecone` (current). Uninstall both, install one: `pip uninstall pinecone-client pinecone`, then `pip install pinecone`.
## Fix
```
python -m pip install --upgrade pinecone
python -c "import pinecone; print(pinecone.__version__)"
```
Always invoke pip as `python -m pip` with the interpreter that will run the code. Bare `pip` is how the wrong-interpreter problem starts.
## Trap
Installing `pinecone-client` because an old tutorial names it. That package is the long-dead v0 client; the current package is `pinecone`.