topic import Arcpy error after upgrade from 2.9 to 3.1 in ArcGIS Pro Questions

import Arcpy error after upgrade from 2.9 to 3.1

DavideBollo — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 13:20:54 GMT

Configuration:

Windows 10 Pro
Version 22H2
Os Build 19045.3393

tried to import library from python command prompt, getting the error:

(arcgispro-py3) C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\envs\arcgispro-py3>python Python 3.9.16 [MSC v.1931 64 bit (AMD64)] :: Anaconda, Inc. on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> import arcpy Traceback (most recent call last): File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\__init__.py", line 77, in <module> from arcpy.geoprocessing import gp File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\geoprocessing\__init__.py", line 14, in <module> from ._base import * File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\geoprocessing\_base.py", line 14, in <module> import arcgisscripting File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\envs\arcgispro-py3\lib\site-packages\arcgisscripting\__init__.py", line 131, in <module> from ._arcgisscripting import * ImportError: DLL load failed while importing _arcgisscripting: The specified procedure could not be found. >>>

follow DarrenConly instructions without success:

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-questions/importerror-dll-load-failed-while-importing/m-p/1295489#M69800

Tried many solution found on web...

added to global environment variable "PATH":
C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\envs\arcgispro-py3\Lib\site-packages\arcgisscripting
C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\Scripts
C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python

added to global environment variable "PYTHONPATH":
C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\envs\arcgispro-py3\Lib\site-packages\arcgisscripting

Clear installation
No Arcmap Installed
No QGis Installed
No other python environment installed
No VScode or other IDE installed
Unable to create cloned workspace (with arcgis or conda command prompt)

I don't know how to solve...

thanks in advance

Re: import Arcpy error after upgrade from 2.9 to 3.1

DavideBollo — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 08:46:52 GMT

solved (but is not a solution)...format system disk and reinstalled everything...

Re: import Arcpy error after upgrade from 2.9 to 3.1

DavideBollo — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 10:04:54 GMT

new update...after installing 3.1.3 patch...nothing works again...

Re: import Arcpy error after upgrade from 2.9 to 3.1

ShariF — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 21:57:22 GMT

So frustrating. Did you ever get arcpy to work? I'm getting the same error when I use regular or cloned environment in PyCharm.

Re: import Arcpy error after upgrade from 2.9 to 3.1

DavideBollo — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:52:36 GMT

now I'm with ArcGIS Pro 3.2.1, win10.
after serveral attemps, formatting my machine several times, I discovered a conflict with an electronic signature software.

if I install the 64bit version of this software, the arcpy libraries outside of ArcGIS no longer work.

maybe you also have software that conflicts with the libraries.

Re: import Arcpy error after upgrade from 2.9 to 3.1

AndyHodren2 — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 17:24:10 GMT

I had the same problem. Ended up solving it by re-ordering the import statements.

Originally I had:

import pandas

import os.path

import arcpy

And I got

import arcpy
File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\__init__.py", line 77, in <module>
from arcpy.geoprocessing import gp
File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\geoprocessing\__init__.py", line 14, in <module>
from ._base import *
File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\geoprocessing\_base.py", line 14, in <module>
import arcgisscripting
File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\envs\arcgispro-py3\Lib\site-packages\arcgisscripting\__init__.py", line 131, in <module>
from ._arcgisscripting import *
ImportError: DLL load failed while importing _arcgisscripting: The specified procedure could not be found.

Then I changed it to:

import arcpy

import pandas

import os.path

And it worked fine.