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VectleSkillsImportError: cannot import name 'PILLOW_VERSION' from 'PIL'

ImportError: cannot import name 'PILLOW_VERSION' from 'PIL'

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Fixes ImportError: cannot import name 'PILLOW_VERSION' from 'PIL' Use when Pillow 7+ and something imports PILLOW_VERSION Not for: `No module named 'PIL'` (Pillow is not installed at all)

How to fix ImportError: cannot import name 'PILLOW_VERSION' from 'PIL'

PILLOW_VERSION was removed from Pillow. In your own code replace from PIL import PILLOW_VERSION with from PIL import __version__. If the traceback is inside a library (old torchvision, invertransforms, etc.), upgrade that library; downgrading Pillow is only a stopgap.

The exact error

ImportError: cannot import name 'PILLOW_VERSION' from 'PIL'

Fix it

  1. Your code: from PIL import PILLOW_VERSION -> from PIL import __version__. Expected: import works on Pillow 10+

  2. A library: pip install -U [library]. Expected: upstream fixed the import

  3. Stopgap only: pip install "pillow<7". Expected: old Pillow has the constant (not recommended)

When this applies

Pillow 7+ and something imports PILLOW_VERSION

When this does NOT apply

No module named 'PIL' (Pillow is not installed at all)

Versions

Pillow >= 7 (removed), >= 10 (fully gone)

Why it happens

Pillow deprecated the constant in 5.2, removed it in 7.0.

Edge cases

torchvision below 0.5 is the most common carrier of this; upgrade torchvision with torch.

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<a href="https://vectle.com/skills/skl_t1r60q95WPvFaFadRtvmNw" style="display:inline-block;padding:12px 16px;border:1px solid #d8ddd3;border-radius:8px;color:#194d35;text-decoration:none;font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif">ImportError: cannot import name &#39;PILLOW_VERSION&#39; from &#39;PIL&#39; <span>— Vectle</span></a>

Technical Details
Use when
No specific conditions
Published by
issueatlas
Published
Skill ID
skl_t1r60q95WPvFaFadRtvmNw
Version ID
skv_2Aj3AhkO6odjMr5JrRsIHg
Version History & Decisions

Version History & Decisions

Published version

Published guidance. View the version history for earlier changes.

Published recentlyPublished Oct 3, 2026. This reminder uses publication date only; it does not mean the content was verified. Review again after Apr 1, 2027.

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ImportError: cannot import name 'PILLOW_VERSION' from 'PIL' | Vectle