python-dotenv

1.2.2 verified Tue May 12 auth: no python install: verified quickstart: stale

python-dotenv is a Python library that reads key-value pairs from a .env file and sets them as environment variables. The current version is 1.2.2, released in March 2026. The library is actively maintained with regular updates.

pip install python-dotenv

Warnings

breaking Dropped support for Python 3.7; minimum required version is now Python 3.10. ↓

fix Upgrade your Python environment to version 3.10 or higher.

gotcha Importing dotenv directly instead of from dotenv import load_dotenv will result in ImportError. ↓

fix Use from dotenv import load_dotenv to import the function correctly.

gotcha The load_dotenv function does not override existing environment variables by default. ↓

fix Pass override=True to load_dotenv() if you want to override existing environment variables.

gotcha The dotenv run command now forwards flags directly to the specified command. ↓

fix Ensure that any flags intended for dotenv run are placed before the command to avoid unintended behavior.

Install compatibility verified last tested: 2026-05-12

python os / libc status wheel install import disk

3.10 alpine (musl) - - 0.04s 17.9M

3.10 slim (glibc) - - 0.03s 18M

3.11 alpine (musl) - - 0.09s 19.8M

3.11 slim (glibc) - - 0.07s 20M

3.12 alpine (musl) - - 0.07s 11.6M

3.12 slim (glibc) - - 0.07s 12M

3.13 alpine (musl) - - 0.06s 11.3M

3.13 slim (glibc) - - 0.06s 12M

3.9 alpine (musl) - - 0.04s 17.4M

3.9 slim (glibc) - - 0.04s 18M

Imports

load_dotenv
wrong
```
import dotenv
```
correct
```
from dotenv import load_dotenv
```
The correct import is from dotenv import load_dotenv; importing dotenv directly will not work.

Quickstart stale last tested: 2026-04-23

This example demonstrates how to load environment variables from a .env file and access them using os.environ.

from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

# Load environment variables from .env file
load_dotenv()

# Access environment variables
SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get('SECRET_KEY', '')
DATABASE_PASSWORD = os.environ.get('DATABASE_PASSWORD', '')

print(f'SECRET_KEY: {SECRET_KEY}')
print(f'DATABASE_PASSWORD: {DATABASE_PASSWORD}')