ImportError: cannot import name 'stealth_sync' from 'playwright_stealth'

playwright-stealth 2.0.0 deleted the stealth_sync and stealth_async helper functions, so code written against 1.x breaks at import. Either pin back with python -m pip install 'playwright-stealth<2.0.0', or migrate to the 2.x API (Stealth class / stealth_async page init, depending on the release notes). Pinning is the one-line fix.

The error

ImportError: cannot import name 'stealth_sync' from 'playwright_stealth'

Fix it

1. Check the installed version

python -m pip show playwright-stealth | head -2

Expected: 2.x. The helpers only exist on 1.x.

1. Quick fix: pin below 2.0

python -m pip install 'playwright-stealth<2.0.0'

Expected: installs the 1.x line where stealth_sync exists. Re-run the import.

1. Proper fix: migrate to the 2.x API

Read the 2.0.0 release notes for the replacement (the stealth application moved to a different call shape). Update the import and the call site, then unpin. Expected: works on 2.x with no pin.

1. Confirm

python -c "from playwright_stealth import stealth_sync; print('ok')"

Expected: prints ok (after the pin) or the migrated import works (after migration).

When this applies

• the ImportError names stealth_sync from playwright_stealth
• it broke right after playwright-stealth upgraded to 2.x
• tutorial code from the 1.x era

When it does NOT apply

• No module named 'playwright_stealth' is the missing install (note the underscore import vs dash pip name)
• stealth_async is the async twin, same cause

Compatibility

playwright-stealth 1.x has stealthsync/stealthasync. 2.0.0 removed them. The pin playwright-stealth<2.0.0 restores the old API.

Variant phrasings

ImportError: cannot import name 'stealth_async' from 'playwright_stealth'

The async twin, removed in the same release. Same pin, same migration.

Why it happens

The 2.0.0 release was a breaking rewrite of the stealth API surface and dropped the two convenience functions without a deprecation shim. Because pip upgrades to 2.x freely (no breaking-change guard in most requirements), existing code breaks at import with no other symptom.

Edge cases

• If you pin <2.0.0, also pin it in requirements, or the next fresh install breaks again.
• playwright-stealth version must stay compatible with your playwright version. Check the stealth release notes when upgrading playwright itself.