Environment variable coming up as 'None" using dotenv python

Question

I am trying to use python-dotenv, but the environment variables I'm trying to pass keep coming up as 'None'. I have two files in the folder: .env & settings.py

I have the following in my .env file: TEST_VAR=jkh45k3j4h5k34j

And I have the following in the same folder in my settings.py:

import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv
load_dotenv()

test_var = os.getenv("TEST_VAR")

print(test_var)

The output I get when running python3 settings.py is: None

Why am I not able to get the variable passed through to settings.py?

Let me add that I am using a virtual environment (venv) when running this. — user196286
– user196286, Commented May 15, 2018 at 16:53
Straight from the "Getting Started" documentation, it looks like you aren't initializing the location of your .env file correctly. See the section with: load_dotenv(dotenv_path=env_path) — William_Wilson
– William_Wilson, Commented May 15, 2018 at 17:04

KevinS · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-15 17:24:20Z

23

You have to give the full path to load_dotenv

import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv

# Get the path to the directory this file is in
BASEDIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))

# Connect the path with your '.env' file name
load_dotenv(os.path.join(BASEDIR, '.env'))

test_var = os.getenv("TEST_VAR")

print(test_var)

answered May 15, 2018 at 17:24

KevinS

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Comments

industArk · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-04 22:23:09Z

11

I had the same problem. After quick testing in my code, I noted that

from dotenv import load_dotenv

load_dotenv(".env")

doesn't load .env file properly (that's why it returns None to environment variables). The file is in the same directory.

When used find_dotenv instead of file path/name it works well.

from dotenv import load_dotenv, find_dotenv

load_dotenv(find_dotenv())

For info, find_dotenv is a function that automatically finds .env file.

answered Jul 4, 2021 at 22:23

industArk

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1 Comment

WurzelseppQX Over a year ago

This should be the accepted answer. This is the correct way to do it.

annhak · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-26 14:43:32Z

5

load_dotenv() should also work without the specified path, as stated here: "load_dotenv will load environment variables from a file named .env in the current directory or any of its parents or from the path specificied." Anyway, it wasn't working for me or OP.

In my case, specifying the path in the code wasn't a viable option, but I needed to automatically find the .env-file. Long story short, this does the job:

load_dotenv(find_dotenv())

edited Nov 26, 2020 at 14:43

answered Nov 26, 2020 at 14:19

annhak

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Comments

cookie · Accepted Answer · 2024-08-01 10:47:33Z

1

i know this post is old but if anyone happens to be here and the dotenv still returns 'none'. try this:

example.ev

API_KEY=abcdeFGHIJ123456

main.py

from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

load_dotenv('example.env')

print(os.getenv('API_KEY')

output:

abcdeFGHIJ123456

this should work.

answered Aug 1, 2024 at 10:47

cookie

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Comments

Suraj Maniyar · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-30 05:37:47Z

0

import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv

### give the full path 
path='/user/.../.env'

load_dotenv(dotenv_path=path,verbose=True)

test_var = os.getenv("TEST_VAR")

print(test_var)

answered Jan 30, 2019 at 5:37

Suraj Maniyar

11

1 Comment

Johan Over a year ago

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