Raspberry Pi 3 and Opencv 3 Installation Tutorial

by Sergio Canu October 31, 2018

We’re going to see today how to install opencv on the raspberry pi 3 Model b+ (with camera).

1) Update os system:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

2) Install dependencies:

sudo apt-get install build-essential cmake pkg-config
sudo apt-get install libjpeg-dev libtiff5-dev libjasper-dev libpng12-dev
sudo apt-get install libavcodec-dev libavformat-dev libswscale-dev libv4l-dev
sudo apt-get install libxvidcore-dev libx264-dev
sudo apt-get install libgtk2.0-dev libgtk-3-dev
sudo apt-get install libatlas-base-dev gfortran

3) Install Python 3 and Pip3:

sudo apt-get install python3-dev
sudo apt-get install python3-pip

4) Install Opencv:

pip3 install opencv-python

5) Extra depencies for Opencv and the Camera:

sudo apt-get install libqtgui4
sudo modprobe bcm2835-v4l2
sudo apt-get install libqt4-test

30 Comments

S Subhash Kumar February 5, 2019 at 11:19 am

HI, I tried to install open cv in my raspberry pi using your commands but I’m getting errors pls help me to install open cv and other packages open cv was installed in my pi but getting an error while importing cv2, and imutils, I trayed the code
sudo apt-get install libqtgui4 install open cv still its showing error pls help me it install open cv and other packages imutils , requests , json , base64

Reply
1. Frieda Rhema September 10, 2019 at 9:56 am
  
  For imutils, try;
  $sudo pip install imutils
  For opencv, it is often not an easy task to install opencv on pi. But i can refer you to this tutorial
  https://www.alatortsev.com/2018/09/05/installing-opencv-3-4-3-on-raspberry-pi-3-b/
  It worked for me.
  I would advice you use a cooling system to prevent your system from crashing.
  Hope this helps someone
  
  Reply
sittikorn April 21, 2019 at 6:53 pm

Please add last step:

sudo apt install libqt4-test

Reply
1. Sergio Canu April 26, 2019 at 6:07 pm
  
  Thanks, I forgot about it.
  
  Reply
Andre Yoshimura May 12, 2019 at 1:37 pm

Thank U, Amazing code!!1

Reply
Mgilraj May 23, 2019 at 12:18 pm

Hello sir ,
I’m trying to install opencv on rpi 3 b+. while putting “pip3 install opencv-python” it shows like this
[
Collecting opencv-python
Could not find a version that satisfies the requirement opencv-python (from versions: )
No matching distribution found for opencv-python
]
what should i do?

Thanks,
Mugil

Reply
1. Sergio Canu June 1, 2019 at 9:47 pm
  
  It could be that raspberry is not able to connect to the server to download an opencv version compatible.
  
  I found that a problem can be that the time of your raspberry pi isn’t synchronized with the real time and the server refuses the connection.
  
  Reply
  1. Bao Pham July 11, 2019 at 4:26 am
    
    I can’t fix it.
    
    Reply
2. Bao July 11, 2019 at 5:04 am
  
  Hi guy, Please help me if you fixed it. [email protected]
  
  Reply
Craig June 10, 2019 at 3:00 am

Hi Sergio, thanks for this tutorial.
I’m also installing on a Pi 3 B+, and the dependency steps took me around the same time as yours did on the video.
I started step 4 and it has proceeded to the point that you paused the video. So I’m wondering how long your step 4 took?
My Pi has been running for several hours with no change to the screen, and I’m wondering if I should be leaving it running? The Pi is clearly doing something as even moving the mouse cursor takes a while to respond.

Thanks.

Reply
Craig June 10, 2019 at 3:34 am

Hi Sergio,

Ignore that last comment. I powered the Pi off and back up, repeated the steps to make sure I hadn’t mistyped anything and this time it worked! And that step 4 only took a few minutes this time.
I am now happily detecting faces and eyes, and just need to work out why I can’t detect smiles and I’ll be happy. Perhaps it doesn’t like my face *grin*.

Thanks.

Reply
Naseeb Gill June 11, 2019 at 10:40 am

Hi Sergio,
I installed opencv using your tutorial and it installed correctly as I am able to import cv2 in python idle 3 as well as in terminal.
But, my problem is little bit different. When I run below code it shows error.
import cv2
import numpy as np
import imutils
from imutils.video import WebcamVideoStream
from imutils.video import VideoStream
cam1 = WebcamVideoStream(src=0).start()
cam2 = WebcamVideoStream(src=2).start()
while (1):
frame1 = cam1.read()
cv2.imshow(“frame1”,frame1)
frame2 = cam2.read()
cv2.imshow(“frame2”,frame2)
k = cv2.waitKey(5) & 0xFF
if k == 27:
break
cam1.release()
cam2.release()
cv2.destroyAllWindows()

It shows error :
VIDIOC_QBUF: Invalid argument
VIDIOC_QBUF: Invalid argument
Traceback (most recent call last):
VIDIOC_QBUF: Invalid argument
File “camm11.py”, line 14, in
cv2.imshow(“frame1”,frame1)
cv2.error: OpenCV(3.4.4) /home/pi/packaging/opencv-python/opencv/modules/highgui/src/window.cpp:356: error: (-215:Assertion failed) size.width>0 && size.height>0 in function ‘imshow’

I am trying to run two webcams using raspberry pi 3 B+. I am using USB power hub to connect webcams.
Please help me how to solve this error.
Thank you.

Reply
Luis G June 16, 2019 at 10:39 am

Hi, nice code! but in my raspberry pi 3 plus i recive this message when i put (pip3 install opencv-python)

ERROR: Could not install packages due to an EnvironmentError: [Errno 13] Permiso denegado: ‘/usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/cv2’
Consider using the `–user` option or check the permissions.

Any body can i help me?

Thanks

Reply
1. Sergio Canu June 16, 2019 at 11:51 am
  
  You need administrator permissions tu install opencv.
  
  so instead of pip3 install opencv-python, type:
  sudo pip3 install opencv-python
  
  Reply
Jairo Reyes June 22, 2019 at 5:38 pm

Hi Sergio, thanks for this amazing tutorial. I have just one error when i run the command ” sudo modprobe bcm2835-v4l2 ” it tells me
modprobe: ERROR: ../libkmod/libkmod.c:586 kmod_search_moddep() could not open moddep file ‘/lib/modules/4.14.98-v7+/modules.dep.bin’
modprobe: FATAL: Module bcm2835-v4l2 not found in directory /lib/modules/4.14.98-v7+

I’ll use OpenCV to recognize a circle taking the Raspberry Pi Camera as input. ¿Do I really need this command to my purpose? Thanks

Reply
1. Shani February 12, 2020 at 5:53 am
  
  I get the same error, when i type sudo modprobe bcm2835-v412 i get the same error, were you able to resolve this issue?
  
  Reply
  1. Ryan March 3, 2020 at 8:04 pm
    
    I’m having the same problem, does anyone know how to solve ??
    
    Reply
Ryan August 29, 2019 at 1:38 pm

Hi Sergio.
Few days ago I’ve finished your tutorial and I can used my Opencv. now when I try to use it again, my Opencv couldn’t be used. Can you help me?

Reply
Antonello October 5, 2019 at 3:23 pm

the command: “pip3 install opencv-python” fails saying:
“THESE PACKAGES DO NOT MATCH THE HASHES FROM THE REQUIREMENT FILE

Reply
Prastio December 5, 2019 at 6:38 am

pls help, after follow all the install step, still error
import cv2
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “”, line 1, in
File “/usr/local/lib/python3.7/dist-packages/cv2/__init__.py”, line 3, in
from .cv2 import *
ImportError: /usr/local/lib/python3.7/dist-packages/cv2/cv2.cpython-37m-arm-linux-gnueabihf.so: undefined symbol: __atomic_fetch_add_8

Reply
1. vikky December 9, 2019 at 9:57 am
  
  did you got the solution I am facing the same issue
  
  Reply
  1. Xakam December 10, 2019 at 12:29 am
    
    Same here guys.
    Please help if you found a solution.
    
    Reply
Dao December 28, 2019 at 6:22 pm

Please help me!
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/home/pi/Desktop/opencv_test.py”, line 1, in
import cv2
File “/home/pi/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/cv2/__init__.py”, line 3, in
from .cv2 import *
ImportError: /home/pi/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/cv2/cv2.cpython-37m-arm-linux-gnueabihf.so: undefined symbol: __atomic_fetch_add_8
>>>

Reply
1. Steph2a January 17, 2020 at 12:02 pm
  
  Same here, would be great to have some help ! Thanks !
  
  Reply
dariax January 17, 2020 at 1:33 pm

i also get the same error please help

Reply
gelo tabs January 22, 2020 at 3:27 am

i do everything in your instruction but still can import the ‘cv2’ heres the error:

[email protected]:~ $ python3
Python 3.7.3 (default, Apr 3 2019, 05:39:12)
[GCC 8.2.0] on linux
Type “help”, “copyright”, “credits” or “license” for more information.
>>> import cv2
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “”, line 1, in
File “/home/pi/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/cv2/__init__.py”, line 3, in
from .cv2 import *
ImportError: /home/pi/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/cv2/cv2.cpython-37m-arm-linux-gnueabihf.so: undefined symbol: __atomic_fetch_add_8

Reply
1. Tashwini January 25, 2020 at 2:06 pm
  
  I also got the same error …how to fix it??
  
  Reply
hohoho January 25, 2020 at 6:19 am

oh my god I cannot do anything it is asking me to install different things

Reply
gdoise February 20, 2020 at 12:14 pm

here
https://github.com/EdjeElectronics/TensorFlow-Object-Detection-on-the-Raspberry-Pi/issues/67
i found the solution worked for me:
Hey, this is because the latest version of openCV doesn’t work with RPi. Instead of pip3 install opencv-python try pip3 install opencv-python==3.4.6.27
You will need to uninstall the latest version first. pip3 uninstall opencv-python

Reply
1. huntermaniac March 5, 2020 at 4:25 am
  
  This worked for me! Thank You!
  
  Reply