[Fix] ImportError: cannot import name ‘get_config’ from ‘tensorflow.python.eager.context’

Tensorflow is one of the most popular and widely used software applications in the world. Developers use it to create and implement deep learning algorithms. Even though it is popular for being easy to use, sometimes users might face difficulty when downloading and installing it in their system.

These problems are mainly caused by dependencies, which are packages that are installed with the tensorflow library so that it can function properly. One common error message that pops up when you try to import specific functions or modules from the tensorflow library is ImportError: cannot import name 'get_config' from 'tensorflow.python.eager.context'.

The ImportError: cannot import name ‘get_config’ from ‘tensorflow.python.eager.context’ occurs when there is a compatibility issue between the TensorFlow version and the environment or IDE. To fix this, check your TensorFlow version, reinstall TensorFlow, or create a virtual environment.

In this article, we will explore what causes this particular error and how we can work through it so that we can use the tensorflow library for our projects. Let’s get started!

Also read: Fixing “ImportError: No module named ‘selenium’” in Python

Understanding the ‘get_config’ ImportError in TensorFlow

Whenever there is a compatibility issue between the tensorflow software and the environment or IDE in which the code is being run. When we try to import libraries from tensorflow using the get_config method and there is some kind of incompatibility between the called function and the environment in which the code is being executed, the error: ImportError: cannot import name 'get_config' from 'tensorflow.python.eager.context'pops up.

Some of the issues are:

• Incompatibility Issues: There may be conflicts between the tensorflow version that we are trying to import and the tensorflow version which is installed or being executed in the environment which might not have the get_config function.
• Incomplete or Corrupted Installations: Due to improper configurations and incomplete installation or corrupted files, some tensorflow functions and commands might not work or go missing.
• Environment setup issues: Function calls and module imports will not work if the environment is not setup properly or has conflicting versions of tensorflow installed.

Related: Checking if a Module Is Installed and Install It Within the Code?

How to Fix the ‘get_config’ ImportError in TensorFlow

In this section, we are going to explore the solutions to the ImportError: cannot import name 'get_config' from 'tensorflow.python.eager.context'. You can use any of the solutions mentioned below.

• Check Your TensorFlow Version: Firstly, you can check the TensorFlow version that is being used in your environment to make sure that version is compatible with your python environment. Open your python editor or IDE and run the following code:

import tensorflow as tf
print("TensorFlow version:", tf.__version__)

As of March 4th, 2024, the latest tensorflow version is 2.15.0 . This is what I got as output, as shown below.

TensorFlow version: 2.15.0

If your output shows any other versions, it might be time for you to upgrade it. Run the following command in your command prompt to update tensorflow.

pip install --upgrade tensorflow

If your version is up-to-date, it will show the following message.

Requirement already satisfied: tensorflow in /usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages (2.15.0)

If your tensorflow is not up-to-date, your tensorflow will be updated. And on successful update, it will show the following message.

Successfully installed tensorflow-2.15.0.post1

• Reinstall TensorFlow to Ensure Integrity: Another solution could be to check whether the TensorFlow download was completed and not corrupted. We can uninstall the existing installation of TensorFlow and then reinstall it properly.

pip uninstall tensorflow
pip install tensorflow

• Create a Virtual Environment for TensorFlow: If the couple of above solutions don’t work, you can create a virtual environment to install a specific version of tensorflow and isolate projects based on that environment.

python -m venv myenv
source myenv/bin/activate  # Activate the virtual environment (for Unix/Linux)
pip install tensorflow

Suggested: Fixed Error: “Package ‘python-pip’ has no installation candidate”

Conclusion:

In this article, we see what the ImportError: cannot import name 'get_config' from 'tensorflow.python.eager.context' is and what are the possible causes of it. There can be multiple reasons due to which your import might be failing. But don’t worry, you can use any of the above mentioned methods to solve your problem. Happy reading!