Coding⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: python urllib2 HTTPSHandler error

pip installation error with urllib2 HTTPSHandler on openSuse 12.3 server.

Quick Answer: Try installing the pyOpenSSL package using pip install pyOpenSSL, as it is a compatibility layer for OpenSSL.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. ⚠️ Common Causes
  2. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The error 'urllib2 HTTPSHandler not found or cannot be imported' occurs when the Python script attempts to use the HTTPSHandler from the urllib2 library, which is part of the Python standard library. This issue affects users who are trying to install packages using pip on a system where the urllib2 library is not properly configured.

This error can be frustrating for developers and administrators alike, as it prevents them from installing and using various libraries and tools that rely on the HTTPSHandler. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to resolve this issue and get your Python script running smoothly.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • The primary cause of this error is that the urllib2 library has been replaced by urllib3 in Python 3.x versions. This change was made to improve security and performance. However, it also means that the HTTPSHandler is no longer available in Python 3.x.
  • An alternative reason for this error could be that the system's OpenSSL installation is not compatible with the Python version or pip version being used.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Upgrade to Python 3.x

  1. Step 1: Update your system to Python 3.x by installing the python-3.6 package (or a higher version if available). You can do this using the following command: sudo zypper install python-3.6
  2. Step 2: Once the installation is complete, update pip to the latest version by running the following command: sudo zypper install python-pip
  3. Step 3: Verify that pip is working correctly by trying to install a package again.
  4. Step 4: Note: If you are using a Python 2.x version, it's recommended to upgrade to Python 3.x as soon as possible for security and compatibility reasons.

Use urllib3 instead of urllib2

  1. Step 1: Install the urllib3 library by running the following command: sudo zypper install python-urllib3
  2. Step 2: Update your Python script to use the requests library, which is a more modern and secure alternative to urllib2.
  3. Step 3: The requests library can be used as follows: import requests
  4. Step 4: Note: The requests library may require additional configuration or modifications to work with certain libraries or tools.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'urllib2 HTTPSHandler not found or cannot be imported' error and get your Python script running smoothly. Remember to always keep your system and software up-to-date to ensure compatibility and security.

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