How to Resolve "Error executing Jupyter command 'notebook': [Errno 2] No such file or directory" Error in Python
When trying to launch a Jupyter Notebook server from the terminal, you might encounter the Error executing Jupyter command 'notebook': [Errno 2] No such file or directory. This error signals that the operating system cannot find the notebook executable that the main jupyter command is trying to launch. It is especially common on Linux systems like Ubuntu and often stems from outdated packages, incomplete installations, or conflicting versions from the time before Project Jupyter was separate from IPython.
This guide provides several step-by-step solutions to diagnose and resolve this common error, ensuring you can launch your Jupyter Notebook environment successfully.
Understanding the Error: Missing Executable
The [Errno 2] No such file or directory message is a low-level operating system error. In this context, the jupyter command acts as a launcher for various subcommands (notebook, lab, console, etc.). When you run jupyter notebook, the system tries to find and execute a program named notebook that is part of the Jupyter ecosystem. The error means this specific program is either not installed or not located in a directory listed in your system's PATH environment variable.
Common causes include:
- An old, lingering
ipythoninstallation that conflicts with modernjupyterpackages. - An incomplete installation where only
jupyter-corewas installed, which lacks thenotebookcomponent. - Path issues where the shell doesn't know where to find the installed Jupyter executables.
Solution 1: Perform a Clean Reinstallation with pip
This is the most common and effective solution. It involves removing old, potentially conflicting packages like ipython and then performing a fresh, forceful reinstallation of the modern jupyter package using pip.
Example of the command that fails:
jupyter notebook
# Output:
# Error executing Jupyter command 'notebook': [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Solution:
- First, completely remove any old
ipythonpackages managed byaptto prevent conflicts. - Then, use
pipto install a fresh copy of Jupyter.
# Step 1: Remove and clean any system-level IPython packages (if present)
sudo apt-get remove ipython
sudo apt-get purge ipython
sudo apt-get autoremove
# Step 2: Use pip to force a clean reinstallation of Jupyter
# For Python 3 (recommended)
pip3 install --upgrade --force-reinstall --no-cache-dir jupyter
# For Python 2 (legacy)
# pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall --no-cache-dir jupyter
After the installation completes, try running the launch command again.
jupyter notebook
# Or, for a more explicit launch:
python3 -m notebook
Solution 2: Force Reinstall with conda
If you are managing your environment with conda (e.g., from an Anaconda or Miniconda distribution), you should use conda's package manager to perform the reinstallation.
Example of the command that fails:
jupyter notebook
# Output:
# Error executing Jupyter command 'notebook': [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Solution:
- First, ensure
condaitself is up to date - Then force a reinstallation of the
jupyterpackage within your chosen environment (here,base).
# Step 1: Update conda in your base environment
conda update -n base conda
# Step 2: Force reinstall the Jupyter package
conda install jupyter --force-reinstall
Once the process is finished, run the command again to launch the Jupyter server.
jupyter notebook
Solution 3: Install the Full jupyter-notebook Package with apt
Sometimes, the error occurs because only the core Jupyter package (jupyter-core) was installed via apt, which does not include the notebook interface. You can verify this by checking the available jupyter subcommands.
Example of verification: Checking for the notebook Subcommand
jupyter -H
# Partial Output (if notebook is missing):
# Available subcommands: migrate troubleshoot
If you don't see notebook in the list, you need to install the specific package that provides it.
Solution: use apt to install the jupyter-notebook package.
sudo apt install jupyter-notebook
If apt encounters issues finding or downloading packages, you can add the --fix-missing flag:
sudo apt install jupyter-notebook --fix-missing
After installation, verify that the notebook subcommand is now available.
jupyter -H
# Partial Output (after successful installation):
# Available subcommands: console kernel kernelspec lab migrate notebook
You can now launch the notebook.
jupyter notebook
Debugging and Verification
If you still face issues after trying the solutions, you can take these steps to debug further:
- Use the
python -minvocation: Runningpython3 -m notebookis often more reliable thanjupyter notebook. It directly uses the Python interpreter you specify, avoiding potentialPATHissues or conflicts between Python 2 and Python 3 installations. - Check your PATH: Ensure the location where
pipinstalls packages is in your system'sPATH. For a local user install, this is often~/.local/bin. You can check your path withecho $PATH. - Find the executable: Use the
whichcommand to see if the system can locate the Jupyter executables.If these commands return nothing, it confirms the executables are not in a location your shell is searching.which jupyter
# Expected Output: /home/user/.local/bin/jupyter or /usr/bin/jupyter etc.
which jupyter-notebook
# Expected Output: /home/user/.local/bin/jupyter-notebook etc.
Conclusion
The Error executing Jupyter command 'notebook': [Errno 2] is almost always a sign of an installation problem. The root cause is typically an outdated, incomplete, or conflicting set of Jupyter packages. To fix it:
- Identify your package manager (
pip,conda,apt). - Perform a clean and forceful reinstallation using the appropriate commands (
pip install --force-reinstall,conda install --force-reinstall). - Ensure you install the complete
jupyterpackage, not just a core component.
By following these steps, you can resolve the missing executable error and successfully launch your Jupyter Notebook environment.