pythonpython-3.xwinapipippywin32

How to fix "ImportError: DLL load failed" while importing win32api


I'm setting up an autoclicker in Python 3.8 and I need win32api for GetAsyncKeyState but it always gives me this error:

>>> import win32api
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: DLL load failed while importing win32api: The specified module could not be found.

I'm on Windows 10 Home 64x. I've already tried

pip install pypiwin32

And it successfully installs but nothing changes. I tried uninstalling and re-installing python as well. I also tried installing 'django' in the same way and it actually works when I import django, so I think it's a win32api issue only.

>>> import win32api

I expect the output to be none, but the actual output is always that error ^^


Solution

  • Run Scripts\pywin32_postinstall.py -install in an Admin command prompt

    ref: https://github.com/mhammond/pywin32/issues/1431

    edit: User @JoyfulPanda gave a warning:

    Running this script with admin rights will also copy pythoncom37.dll, pywintypes37.dll (corresponding to the pywin32 version), into C:\WINDOWS\system32, which effectively overwrites the corresponding DLL versions from Anaconda already there. This later causes problem when openning (on Windows) "Start Menu > Anaconda3 (64-bit) > Anaconda Prompt (a_virtual_env_name)". At least Anaconda 2019.07 has pywin32 223 installed by default. Pywin32 224 may work, but 225-228 causes problem for Anaconda (2019.07)