How to fix ERROR: Could not install packages due to an OSError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages' in Python

The recommended solution is to use a virtual environment, which creates an isolated Python installation in your home directory where you have full permissions:

# Create a virtual environment
python3 -m venv myenv

# Activate it on Linux/macOS
source myenv/bin/activate

# On Windows
myenv\Scripts\activate

# Now pip will install to your local environment
pip install your-package-name

This approach is preferred because it:
- Isolates project dependencies
- Avoids system-wide pollution
- Works without elevated permissions
- Allows different projects to use different package versions

If you don't want to use a virtual environment, you can install packages to your user home directory:

pip install --user package-name

This installs packages to ~/.local/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages instead of the system directory. You have full write permissions to your home directory. To verify this worked:

pip list --user

Identify which Python and pip you're using to understand the issue better:

# Show which pip executable is being used
which pip
which pip3

# Show the Python version and installation location
python3 --version
python3 -c "import sys; print(sys.prefix)"

# List where pip would install packages
pip show -f pip

If the output shows /usr/lib or /usr paths, you're using the system Python. Consider using a virtual environment or Python version manager instead.

For a more professional setup, use pyenv to install Python in your home directory:

# Install pyenv (on macOS with homebrew)
brew install pyenv

# On Linux, follow: https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv#installation

# Install a specific Python version
pyenv install 3.11.0

# Set it as your local or global Python
pyenv local 3.11.0
pyenv global 3.11.0

# Now pip will use your user-owned Python
pip install package-name

This approach gives you:
- Complete control over Python versions
- Per-project Python version selection
- No permission issues
- Easy switching between versions

If you have system access and need to allow your user to install packages system-wide (not recommended for security reasons), you can check and fix permissions:

# Check current permissions on site-packages
ls -ld /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages

# See which group owns the directory
stat /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages

# If your user should have access, you might add them to a group
# This is a system administration task and varies by distribution
sudo usermod -a -G python-group $USER

IMPORTANT: Modifying system Python permissions can break system tools that depend on it. Only do this if you fully understand the implications.

While it might seem like using sudo pip install will solve the problem, this creates serious issues:

# DON'T do this:
sudo pip install package-name  # ❌ BAD

# WHY it's bad:
# - Installs packages as root, creating permission mismatches
# - Can break system tools that depend on system Python
# - Can corrupt your Python installation
# - Mixes your user code with system code

If you're tempted to use sudo, it's a sign you should use a virtual environment or --user flag instead. The only legitimate case for sudo with pip is system administration on a clean system Python installation.