Revert the `--no-site-packages` option with virtualenv

Question

I have created a virtualenv using the --no-site-packages option and installed lots of libraries. Now I would like to revert the --no-site-packages

Answer 1

Try removing (or renaming) the file no-global-site-packages.txt in your Lib folder under your virtual environment.

Where venv is the name of your virtual environment, and python3.4 corresponds to whichever version of python involved, for example:

$ rm venv/lib/python3.4/no-global-site-packages.txt

And if you change your mind and want to put it back:

$ touch venv/lib/python3.4/no-global-site-packages.txt

Note: If you don't see the above file, then you have a newer version of virtualenv. You'll want to follow this answer instead

Answer 2

Go to your venv folder and open pyvenv.cfg. (E.g. if your virtual environment is called myenv then the file will be located at myenv\pyvenv.cfg)

You'll see a boolean setting called include-system-site-packages

Set that setting to true to use global packages

If you want to disable using global packages, just set that setting to false instead.

Answer 3

At least for Python 3.5.2, there is pyvenv.cfg file in the root of virtualenv directory. All you need to do is to change include-system-site-packages flag from false to true:

home = /usr/bin
include-system-site-packages = false  # <- change this to "true"
version = 3.5.2

Answer 4

Try adding a symlink between /virtualenv_root/lib/ and /path/to/desired/site-packages/

Answer 5

When using virtualenvwrapper to manage virtualenvs, you can use the shell function toggleglobalsitepackages to switch between using and not using site packages.