I changed the directory of a project in PyCharm then deleted and configured a new local python interpreter even after the new interpreter was configured PyCharm still gives me a Invalid Local Interpreter error.
(By directory change I mean I moved my project into a new folder made inside the same parent folder the project already was.)
I tried to delete the .venv folder (both from the PyCharm file list and from the Windows file explorer) I also deleted all other PyCharm created files and folders except the .py files I had written
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Your local interpreter might be invalid because the PyCharm interpreter configuration might be pointing to a location that doesn’t exist anymore, especially after the project directory change.
You can try the following steps to solve your problem:
-
Check the Python Interpreter Configuration: Go to File > Settings > Project: > Python Interpreter in PyCharm. Ensure that the interpreter being used points to the correct python executable location. If you’re using a virtual environment, this should be inside your /.venv/Scripts/python.exe
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Re-create Your Virtual Environment: To do this, use the Terminal window in PyCharm to navigate to the root of your project and run the following command to create a new virtual environment.
python -m venv .venv
Then you can specify the newly created environment as your project’s Python interpreter from the PyCharm File > Settings > Project: > Python Interpreter.
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Check PyCharm IDE Configurations: Sometimes, the IDE’s configurations can cause such issues. Close PyCharm, delete all
.idea
directories (hidden directories named “.idea” inside your project’s directory), and re-open the PyCharm.
Be aware that .idea directories contain your personal IDE configurations and settings for your project, so back it up if needed.
- Check Run/Debug Configurations: Go to Run > Edit Configurations and check if the script path and interpreter paths are correct.
Remember to restart PyCharm after these changes and check.