python-dotenv

1.2.2 · active · verified Sat Mar 28

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.

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

pip install python-dotenv Install python-dotenv

Imports

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

Quickstart

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}')

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