# Cv2.imshow not displaying image

**URL:** <https://forum.opencv.org/t/cv2-imshow-not-displaying-image/19027>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Tags:** programming\
**Created:** [October 20, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.opencv.org/t/cv2-imshow-not-displaying-image/19027 "2024-10-20T16:46:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Karim\_Ait\_Salim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.opencv.org/karim_ait_salim/32/11344_2.png) [@Karim\_Ait\_Salim](https://forum.opencv.org/u/Karim_Ait_Salim)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.opencv.org/t/cv2-imshow-not-displaying-image/19027/1 "2024-10-20T16:46:12Z")

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I’ve installed opencv multiple times even compiled it but the error keeps returning

cv2.error: OpenCV(4.10.0) D:\a\opencv-python\opencv-python\opencv\modules\highgui\src\window.cpp:1301: error: (-2:Unspecified error) The function is not implemented. Rebuild the library with Windows, GTK+ 2.x or Cocoa support. If you are on Ubuntu or Debian, install libgtk2.0-dev and pkg-config, then re-run cmake or configure script in function ‘cvShowImage’

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crackwitz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.opencv.org/crackwitz/32/14_2.png) [@crackwitz](https://forum.opencv.org/u/crackwitz)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://forum.opencv.org/t/cv2-imshow-not-displaying-image/19027/2 "2024-10-20T17:20:36Z")

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how did you install opencv?

what does the error say?

what does the internet say about the error?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Karim\_Ait\_Salim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.opencv.org/karim_ait_salim/32/11344_2.png) [@Karim\_Ait\_Salim](https://forum.opencv.org/u/Karim_Ait_Salim)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.opencv.org/t/cv2-imshow-not-displaying-image/19027/3 "2024-10-20T19:15:38Z")

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on windows vscode terminal, i entered : pip install opencv-python  
Ive tried reinstalling it and nothing seems to work for me  
it made me frustrated  
ive seen several post with the same problem and nothing works

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crackwitz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.opencv.org/crackwitz/32/14_2.png) [@crackwitz](https://forum.opencv.org/u/crackwitz)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.opencv.org/t/cv2-imshow-not-displaying-image/19027/4 "2024-10-20T19:53:08Z")

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nothing works?

post the output of `pip list` please.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Karim\_Ait\_Salim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.opencv.org/karim_ait_salim/32/11344_2.png) [@Karim\_Ait\_Salim](https://forum.opencv.org/u/Karim_Ait_Salim)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://forum.opencv.org/t/cv2-imshow-not-displaying-image/19027/5 "2024-10-20T20:11:16Z")

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Package Version

* * *

contourpy 1.3.0  
cycler 0.12.1  
fonttools 4.54.1  
kiwisolver 1.4.7  
matplotlib 3.9.2  
numpy 2.1.2  
opencv-python 4.10.0.84  
packaging 24.1  
pillow 11.0.0  
pip 24.2  
pyparsing 3.2.0  
python-dateutil 2.9.0.post0  
setuptools 65.5.0  
six 1.16.0

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crackwitz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.opencv.org/crackwitz/32/14_2.png) [@crackwitz](https://forum.opencv.org/u/crackwitz)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 8:58am UTC](https://forum.opencv.org/t/cv2-imshow-not-displaying-image/19027/6 "2024-10-21T08:58:25Z")

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that can’t be. where is the `opencv-python-headless` or `opencv-contrib-python-headless` that caused the exception message?

how many pythons and virtual environments do you have? what IDEs have you installed? are you using any docker or VM or WSL/WSL2? do you have more than one computer?

you’d best find a place that helps you with your beginner python troubles. this is going way beyond the scope of OpenCV support. I can’t possibly guess what is going on with your system.