PyQt5 Tools

5.15.9.3.3 verified Mon Apr 27 auth: no python

PyQt5-tools provides Qt Designer, Qt Linguist, and other Qt tools for PyQt5 development. Current version 5.15.9.3.3, with irregular releases. It bundles binaries for Windows and Linux to avoid manual installation of Qt tools.

pip install pyqt5-tools

Common errors

error ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pyqt5_tools' ↓

cause Package not installed or old version with different namespace.

fix

Run pip install pyqt5-tools and use correct import: from pyqt5_tools import QtDesigner

error 'QtDesigner' object has no attribute 'run' ↓

cause Using older version where the API was different or import was incorrect.

fix

Update pyqt5-tools: pip install --upgrade pyqt5-tools and use QtDesigner.run()

Warnings

breaking In version 5.15.x, the import path changed from `pyqt5_tools.designer` to `pyqt5_tools.QtDesigner.run()`. Direct function calls break. ↓

fix Use `from pyqt5_tools import QtDesigner; QtDesigner.run()`

gotcha PyQt5-tools does not install PyQt5 automatically. Must install PyQt5 separately. ↓

fix Run `pip install PyQt5` before or alongside pyqt5-tools.

gotcha On Linux, Qt platform plugin errors may occur: 'Could not load the Qt platform plugin "xcb"'. This is due to missing system libraries. ↓

fix Install system packages: `sudo apt install libxcb-xinerama0` or use offscreen platform: `export QT_QPA_PLATFORM=offscreen`

Imports

QtDesigner launch

wrong

import pyqt5_tools; pyqt5_tools.designer()

correct

from pyqt5_tools import QtDesigner; QtDesigner.run()

Old API used direct module attribute; correct is via QtDesigner class

Quickstart

Launch Qt Designer from Python code.

import os
from pyqt5_tools import QtDesigner
# Optionally set designer path
os.environ.setdefault('QT_QPA_PLATFORM_PLUGIN_PATH', '')
QtDesigner.run()