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how to fix error when importing geopandas in Spyder, possibly due to qgis install? [duplicate]

I have been using Spyder installed with with Anaconda distribution which uses Python 2.7 as default. Currently I need to set up a development virtual environment with Python 3.4.
Top two suggestions after research online are:
to set up virtual environment first and to point change the preferences of Spyder , e.g here;
to install all Spyder dependencies, like PyQt4, in the virtual environment itself, e. g. here ;
Both recommendations are cumbersome and do not look like smart options for development.
Is there a solution that would allow to run Spyder with required Python version automatically after activating the required virtual environment?

Here is a quick way to do it in 2021 using the Anaconda Navigator. This is the most reliable way to do it, unless you want to create environments programmatically which I don't think is the case for most users:
Open Anaconda Navigator.
Click on Environments > Create and give a name to your environment. Be sure to change Python/R Kernel version if needed.
Go "Home" and click on "Install" under the Spyder box.
Click "Launch/Run"
There are still a few minor bugs when setting up your environment, most of them should be solved by restarting the Navigator.
If you find a bug, please help us posting it in the Anaconda Issues bug-tracker too! If you run into trouble creating the environment or if the environment was not correctly created you can double check what got installed: Clicking the "Environments" opens a management window showing installed packages. Search and select Spyder-related packages and then click on "Apply" to install them.

There is an option to create virtual environments in Anaconda with required Python version.
conda create -n myenv python=3.4
To activate it :
source activate myenv # (in linux, you can use . as a shortcut for "source")
activate myenv # (in windows - note that you should be in your c:\anaconda2 directory)
UPDATE. I have tested it with Ubuntu 18.04. Now you have to install spyder additionally for the new environment with this command (after the activation of the environment with the command above):
conda install spyder
(I have also tested the installation with pip, but for Python 3.4 or older versions, it breaks with the library dependencies error that requires manual installation.)
And now to run Spyder with Python 3.4 just type:
spyder
EDIT from a reader:
For a normal opening, use "Anaconda Prompt" > activate myenv > spyder (then the "Anaconda Prompt" must stay open, you cannot use it for other commands, and a force-close will shut down Spyder). This is of course faster than the long load of "Anaconda Navigator" > switch environment > launch Spyder (#adelriosantiago's answer).

What worked for me :
run spyder from the environment (after source activate)
go to Tools --> preferences --> python Interpreter and select the python file from the env you want to link to spyder
ex : /home/you/anaconda3/envs/your_env/bin/python
Worked on ubuntu 16, spyder3, python3.6.

Additional to tomaskazemekas's answer: you should install spyder in that virtual environment by:
conda install -n myenv spyder
(on Windows, for Linux or MacOS, you can search for similar commands)

To do without reinstalling spyder in all environments follow official reference here.
In summary (tested with conda):
Spyder should be installed in the base environment
From the system prompt:
Create an new environment. Note that depending on how you create it (conda, virtualenv) the environment folder will be located at different place on your system)
Activate the environment (e.g., conda activate [yourEnvName])
Install spyder-kernels inside the environment (e.g., conda install spyder-kernels)
Find and copy the path for the python executable inside the environment. Finding this path can be done using from the prompt this command python -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)"
Deactivate the environment (i.e., return to base conda deactivate)
run spyder (spyder3)
Finally in spyder Tool menu go to
Preferences > Python Interpreter > Use the following interpreter and paste the environment python executable path
Restart the ipython console
PS: in spyder you should see at the bottom something like this
Voila

I just had the same problem trying to get Spyder to run in Virtual Environment.
The solution is simple:
Activate your virtual environment.
Then pip install Spyder and its dependencies (PyQt5) in your virtual environment.
Then launch Spyder3 from your virtual environment CLI.
It works fine for me now.

The above answers are correct but I calling spyder within my virtualenv would still use my PATH to look up the version of spyder in my default anaconda env. I found this answer which gave the following workaround:
source activate my_env # activate your target env with spyder installed
conda info -e # look up the directory of your conda env
find /path/to/my/env -name spyder # search for the spyder executable in your env
/path/to/my/env/then/to/spyder # run that executable directly
I chose this over modifying PATH or adding a link to the executable at a higher priority in PATH since I felt this was less likely to break other programs. However, I did add an alias to the executable in ~/.bash_aliases.

From Spyder official page on Github:
The naive approach
To use Spyder with another environment, the simplest way is to just
install it directly into the environment from which you'd like to use
the packages in, and run it from there. This works with all Spyder
versions and should require no extra configuration once the IDE is
installed; however, it results in multiple installations to manage and
isn't as flexible or configurable as the alternative. Therefore, when
dealing with multiple environments, we recommend the modular
approach.
The modular approach
Starting with Spyder 3.3.1, you can install the modular
spyder-kernels package into any Python environment (conda
environment, virtualenv/venv, system Python, WinPython, etc) in
which you wish to work, and then change the Python interpreter used by
Spyder on its IPython consoles to point to the Python executable of
that environment.
This takes a small amount of preparation and configuration, but is
much "lighter" and quicker than a full Spyder installation into that
environment, avoids dependency conflicts, and opens up new workflow
possibilities.
To achieve this, follow these steps:
1- Activate the environment (e.g. myenv) in which you'd like to work (e.g. with conda activate myenv for conda, source myenv/bin/activate or workon myenv for virtualenv/venv, etc)
2- Install the spyder-kernels package there, with the command:
3- conda install spyder-kernels if using conda/Anaconda,
4- pip install spyder-kernels if using pip/virtualenv.
5- After installing via either method, run the following command inside the same environment:
python -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)"
and copy the path returned by that command (it should end in
python, pythonw, python.exe or pythonw.exe, depending on your
operating system).
6- Deactivate that environment, activate the one in which Spyder is installed (if you've installed it in its own environment) and start
Spyder as you normally would.
7- After Spyder has started, navigate to Preferences > Python Interpreter > Use the following interpreter and paste the path from
Step 3 into the text box.
8- Start a new IPython console. All packages installed in your myenv environment should be available there. If conda is used, the
name of the current environment and its Python version should be
displayed in Spyder's status bar, and hovering over it should display
the path of the selected interpreter.

On Windows:
You can create a shortcut executing
Anaconda3\pythonw.exe Anaconda3\cwp.py Anaconda3\envs\<your_env> Anaconda3\envs\<your env>\pythonw.exe Anaconda3\envs\<your_env>\Scripts\spyder-script.py
However, if you started spyder from your venv inside Anaconda shell, it creates this shortcut for you automatically in the Windows menu. The steps:
install spyder in your venv using the methods mentioned in the other answers here.
(in anaconda:) activate testenv; though in my case, this step was not needed.
Look up the windows menu "recently added" or just search for "spyder" in the windows menu, find spyder (testenv) and
[add that to taskbar] and / or
[look up the file source location] and copy that to your desktop, e.g. from C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Anaconda3 (64-bit), where the spyder links for any of my environments can be found.
Now you can directly start spyder from a shortcut without the need to open anaconda prompt.

For me below worked:
Open Anaconda, setup new environment, then select the env and click on play icon as shown below:
Then click on Open Terminal, and type "spyder" in terminal, it will open the spyder with selected env.
Note: For me directly opening Sypder from Home page was always opening with base env.

I follow one of the advice above and indeed it works. In summary while you download Anaconda on Ubuntu using the advice given above can help you to 'create' environments. The default when you download Spyder in my case is: (base) smith#ubuntu ~$. After you create the environment, i.e. fenics and activate it with $ conda activate fenics the prompt change to (fenics) smith#ubuntu ~$. Then you launch Spyder from this prompt, i.e $ spyder and your system open the Spyder IDE, and you can write fenics code on it. Remember every time you open a terminal your system open the default prompt. You have to activate your environment where your package is and the prompt change to it i.e. (fenics).

Why does not Spyder acknowledge the virtual environment?

I created a virtual environment in Conda for 2.7 named PY27 using the method of this thread:
How to run Spyder in virtual environment?
I have currently Python 3.7 installed and I wanted to emulate 2.7. However, although the environment looks as if it's working in the Anaconda Prompt switching correctly to the new PY27, in Spyder I still see 3.7.
In addition, I keep receiving this message:
"Note: you may need to restart the kernel to use updated packages."
I have tried to use the
conda init powershell command but I still receive the same message.
Thank you very much in advance for your help!

The python version in spyder's title bar is the python version of the environment in which spyder is installed. As of spyder 3.3, you can change the python kernel used by spyder without changing the python version of its environment.
First make sure you have spyder-kernels in your PY27 environment.
conda install -c conda-forge spyder-kernels
I'll recommend you install one of the spyder-kernels = 0* versions
Then execute python -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)" in your PY27 env prompt and copy the output. Open spyder and navigate to Tools -> Preferences -> Python interpreter and paste the command output there. You just told spyder to use yourPY27 env's python interpreter.
Reload spyder and you should see you're PY27 env's python kernel show up on the console.

Installing python 3.6 , when I am already using Anaconda Python 2.7

I am currently using Anaconda2 .
python -V gives :- Python 2.7.11 :: Anaconda 4.0.0
Now I want to use Python 3.6 and i tried to update my python version using the following command in anaconda:-
conda install python=3.6
but this did not worked , because I work in a restricted environment MNC .
Two Options are available to me and I want to know which one should I follow
1> I can install Anaconda3 .
But if do that , do i need to uninstall already existing version of Anaconda I am using i.e Anaconda2 ? If not please tell me how will I choose which version of python to use in Spyder.
2> I can install Python3.6 .
If I take this option , I have no idea of what to do afterwards.
P.S.:- I am not very good at installation so please guide me in the easiest way possible.
Also if there is some other way , please share that too

are you able to create a new environment with the command:
conda create -n py36 python=3.6
?
if so, anaconda will create a new subfolder for this environment in the anaconda/envs folder named py36. in spyder you can go to tools->preferences->python interpreter and choose the python interpreter (python.exe if on windows) in that folder. to use pip and all in the commandline for that environment write:
if on linux/mac:
source activate py36
if on windows:
activate py36
then continue to do you installations and all.

Take a look at environments, which enable you to have multiple python versions and manage them seperately. The documentation can be found here
In short, just do:
conda create -n myenv python=3.6
to create an environment with python 3.6. You can enter it doing
source myenv
and then pip install any desired packages.

If you are using Anaconda and python, you just update it with:-
Open Anaconda Prompt type:-
conda update conda
conda update python
Check your python version python --version and conda version conda --version

How to change python version in anaconda spyder

I am using 3.6 Python version in anaconda spyder on my mac. But I want to change it to Python 2.7.
Can any one tell me how to do that?

You can open the preferences (multiple options):
keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Shift + P
Tools -> Preferences
And depending on the Spyder version you can change the interpreter in the Python interpreter section (Spyder 3.x):
or in the advanced Console section (Spyder 2.x):

First, you have to run below codes in Anaconda prompt,
conda create -n py27 python=2.7 #for version 2.7
activate py27
conda create -n py36 python=3.6 #for version 3.6
activate py36
Then, you have to open Anaconda navigator and,
The button might say "install" instead of Launch. After the installation, which takes a few moments, It will be ready to launch.
Thank you, #cloudscomputes and #Francisco Camargo.

If you want to keep python 3, you can follow these directions to create a python 2.7 environment, called py27.
Then you just need to activate py27:
$ conda activate py27
Then you can install spyder on this environment, e.g.:
$ conda install spyder
Then you can start spyder from the command line or navigate to 2.7 version of spyder.exe below the envs directory (e.g. C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\envs\py27\Scripts)

You can launch the correct version of Spyder by launching from Ananconda's Navigator. From the dropdown, switch to your desired environment and then press the launch Spyder button. You should be able to check the results right away.

In Preferences, select Python Interpreter
Under Python Interpreter, change from "Default" to "Use the following Python interpreter"
The path there should be the default Python executable. Find your Python 2.7 executable and use that.

If you are using anaconda to go into python environment
you should have build up different environment for different python version
The following scripts may help you build up a new environment(running in anaconda prompt)
conda create -n py27 python=2.7 #for version 2.7
activate py27
conda create -n py36 python=3.6 #for version 3.6
activate py36
you may leave the environment back to your global env by typing
deactivate py27
or
deactivate py36
and then you can either switch to different environment using your anaconda UI with
#Francisco Camargo 's answer
or you can stick to anaconda prompt using
#Dan 's answer

Set python3 as a main version in the terminal:
ln -sf python3 /usr/bin/python
Install pip3:
apt-get install python3-pip
Update spyder:
pip install -U spyder
Enjoy

In Anaconda, click on "Environments", scroll down to the software package(s) you need to update, and click on the update arrow.

iPython with different env (using anaconda)

I have just created a new env with python 3.5 using anaconda (called it python35). My root env points to python 2.7.11. I cant seem to launch ipython with this new env, here is what I did
1. in conda prompt, activate required env: activate python35
2. confirm the version: python --version
3. launch ipython: ipython notebook
4. open a notebook and do: import sys; print (sys.version)
Step #2, returns 3.5 but step #4 always gives me 2.7.11, its like ipython is picking up python version from root env. How do I fix this. Thanks for any help!
This question is related but I have already done what it suggests.

AFAIK, different environments in anaconda (and in venv as well) are activated by prepending env path to $PATH environment variable. It means, that if some file (eg, ipython) is not found in env path (the first entry of $PATH), the system searches for it in consequent entries of $PATH and finds it in root environment (that stays in $PATH). To fix the behavior, you need to install its own copy of ipython to anaconda env:
In command prompt, activate the environment: source activate python35 (or simply activate python35, depending on the OS)
While in environment, issue the command conda install ipython-notebook

An addition to Andrey Sobolev solution,you should switch to conda install ipython for higher python3.x version and log out the environment by Ctrl+D or conda deactivate then activate again

I could confirm the solution above (basically install notebook in active environment) in my case. Two updates from my side:
Since Anaconda 4.4 (?) ipython notebook is now jupyter notebook. So I had to install jupyter instead. I guess, deactivate and activate was required afterwards to get the path variables in notebook updated -> checked by python -c "import sys; print(sys.path)" or corresponding command in notebook.
If you aren't using a isolated anaconda environment, you may eventual calling the notebook package from your native OS-Python installation, instead the desired from Anaconda. Similarly, I had trouble with cmake or cxx, when I try to compile in Anaconda Environment - the diffent root folder might found in linux bash with e.g "which jupyter"