Could not install packages due to an OSError

ByChaknith Bin

October 2, 2024

Updated June 22, 2025

During installation, you may encounter the exception below:

ERROR: Could not install packages due to an OSError: [WinError 5] Access is denied: 'C:\\Python312\\IronPdf.Slim'
Consider using the `--user` option or check the permissions.

Solution

The solution is to include the --user flag at the end of the installation command. For example:

pip install ironpdf==2024.9.1.3 --user

pip install ironpdf==2024.9.1.3 --user

SHELL

When using --user, the package is installed in a directory under your user profile, such as 'C:\Users\\AppData\' on Windows or ~/.local/ on Linux. However, this solution may lead to the issue 'Failed to locate IronPdf.Slim.dll.'

Reason

This issue occurs because the program is being installed in the C: drive's base directory, instead of in your 'C:\Users\' directory. The --user flag allows installation in a user-specific directory, bypassing permission issues associated with system directories.

Chaknith Bin

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Software Engineer

Chaknith works on IronXL and IronBarcode. He has deep expertise in C# and .NET, helping improve the software and support customers. His insights from user interactions contribute to better products, documentation, and overall experience.