AttributeError: module 'numpy' has no attribute 'random'

7 Dec 2025

1 min read

AttributeError: module ‘numpy’ has no attribute ‘random’

$ python -c "import numpy as np; np.random.randn(3)"
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: module 'numpy' has no attribute 'random'

Why this happens

Common reasons: a local file named numpy.py or a package named numpy is shadowing the real NumPy; an extremely old NumPy version; or an import mistake overwritten the name numpy.

Fix

Check your working directory for numpy.py or folders named numpy. Rename them. Verify import path with print(numpy.__file__) and upgrade NumPy if needed.

Wrong code

# project root contains numpy.py which shadows real numpy
import numpy as np
print(np.random.randn(3))

Fixed code

# rename local module to avoid shadowing
import numpy as np
print(np.random.default_rng().standard_normal(3))

# verify
import numpy
print(numpy.__file__)