Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: How to fix 'Object arrays cannot be loaded when allow_pickle=False' for imdb.load_data() function?

Error in loading IMDb dataset in Google Colab due to allow_pickle=False.

Quick Answer: Try setting allow_pickle=True when calling load_data() function.

The issue you're experiencing with the 'Object arrays cannot be loaded when allow_pickle=False' error for the load_data() function in Google Colab is quite common. This occurs because the IMDb dataset contains a large number of objects that are not pickleable, which causes the error.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • Using an outdated version of the IMDb dataset.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Method 1: Update IMDb Dataset

  1. Step 1: Upgrade to the latest version of the IMDb dataset using `!pip install -U imdb-dataset-powertools` or `!python -m imdb_dataset_powertools upgrade.

Method 2: Use allow_pickle=True

  1. Step 1: Set `allow_pickle=True` when loading the data using `imdb.load_data(allow_pickle=True)`..

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Object arrays cannot be loaded when allow_pickle=False' error and successfully load the IMDb dataset in Google Colab.

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