Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: backports/lzma/_lzmamodule.c(115) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'lzma.h': No such file or directory

Error installing backports.lzma library on Windows 7 with Visual Studio 2015. Missing lzma.h file.

Quick Answer: Ensure the XZ Utils library is properly installed and its include files are added to the compiler's search path.

The error 'backports/lzma/_lzmamodule.c(115) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'lzma.h': No such file or directory' occurs when the XZ Utils library is not properly installed or configured on your system.

This issue affects users who are trying to install the backports.lzma library for Python using pip, which is a mandatory requirement for this library.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the XZ Utils library is not properly installed or configured on your system. The XZ Utils library is required by the backports.lzma library to function correctly.
  • An alternative reason could be that there are conflicts with other libraries or files in your system that are preventing the installation of the XZ Utils library.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Installing and configuring the XZ Utils library

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Download and extract the XZ Utils library from a reputable source.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Copy the extracted XZ Utils library files to the correct directory on your system (usually Program Files).
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Add the XZ Utils library directory to your system's PATH environment variable.
  4. Step 4: Step 4: Try installing the backports.lzma library again using pip.
  5. Step 5: Step 5: If you encounter any further errors, ensure that there are no conflicts with other libraries or files in your system.

Alternative solution (not recommended)

  1. Step 1: This method is not recommended as it may cause more harm than good. However, if you still want to try this method, you can attempt to manually compile the XZ Utils library from source.
  2. Step 2: Step 1: Download the XZ Utils source code from a reputable source.
  3. Step 3: Step 2: Compile the XZ Utils source code using a C compiler.
  4. Step 4: Step 3: Install the compiled XZ Utils library files in the correct directory on your system.
  5. Step 5: Note: This method is not recommended as it requires advanced technical knowledge and may cause more harm than good.

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve this issue, follow the steps outlined in Method 1 (Installing and configuring the XZ Utils library). If you encounter any further errors, consider seeking assistance from a qualified IT professional or the backports.lzma library author.

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