Django configuration error

DADOUDOOU · November 14, 2023, 6:33am

guys, why when I try to run the local server, the terminal keeps saying

django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: 
Requested setting DEBUG, but settings are not configured. 
You must either define the environment variable DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE or call settings.configure() before accessing settings.

After setting the “DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE” by using export DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=djongo_news.settings
The terminal then says ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘django_news’

I need help!

KenWhitesell · November 14, 2023, 1:41pm

Side notes - you need to enclose the code between three backtick - ` characters, not apostrophes. Also, it’s not helpful to post a title like “Help needed”. We know you’re looking for assistance, the title should be a brief statement of the issue. (I’ve edited it for you.)

Please provide more details about what you’ve done so far, how you’ve got your project configured, and the commands you’re entering.

Right off-hand, the most likely cause is that you’re not in the right directory when you’re trying to run this.

Also, you’re showing a reference to "djongo_news" in your export statement, but the error message reporting you as looking for "django_news". Which one is correct here?

DADOUDOOU · November 14, 2023, 1:59pm

Got it! Thanks for the clarification. I think its only the issue of mis typing
I need to keep practicing

BethTian · May 21, 2024, 7:27am

I have met the same problems. In the stackoverflow I saw one way to add the following lines at the top of the script. Then it works.You can try!

import os
os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "mysite.settings")

import django
django.setup()

from django.core.management import call_command

IRIETech225 · February 20, 2025, 11:38am

hello i have a same issue

igenvirietech@IRIEL:~/ig/ig$ django-admin runserver
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/irietech/.local/bin/django-admin", line 8, in <module>
    sys.exit(execute_from_command_line())
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 442, in execute_from_command_line
    utility.execute()
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 436, in execute
    self.fetch_command(subcommand).run_from_argv(self.argv)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 413, in run_from_argv
    self.execute(*args, **cmd_options)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py", line 75, in execute
    super().execute(*args, **options)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 459, in execute
    output = self.handle(*args, **options)
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py", line 82, in handle
    if not settings.DEBUG and not settings.ALLOWED_HOSTS:
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/conf/__init__.py", line 81, in __getattr__
    self._setup(name)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/conf/__init__.py", line 61, in _setup
    raise ImproperlyConfigured(
django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: Requested setting DEBUG, but settings are not configured. You must either define the environment variable DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE or call settings.configure() before accessing settings.
igenvirietech@IRIEL:~/ig/ig$ django-admin runserver
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/irietech/.local/bin/django-admin", line 8, in <module>
    sys.exit(execute_from_command_line())
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 442, in execute_from_command_line
    utility.execute()
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 436, in execute
    self.fetch_command(subcommand).run_from_argv(self.argv)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 413, in run_from_argv
    self.execute(*args, **cmd_options)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py", line 75, in execute
    super().execute(*args, **options)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 459, in execute
    output = self.handle(*args, **options)
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py", line 82, in handle
    if not settings.DEBUG and not settings.ALLOWED_HOSTS:
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/conf/__init__.py", line 81, in __getattr__
    self._setup(name)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/conf/__init__.py", line 61, in _setup
    raise ImproperlyConfigured(
django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: Requested setting DEBUG, but settings are not configured. You must either define the environment variable DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE or call settings.configure() before accessing settings.
igenvirietech@IRIEL:~/ig/ig$ django-admin runserver
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/irietech/.local/bin/django-admin", line 8, in <module>
    sys.exit(execute_from_command_line())
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 442, in execute_from_command_line
    utility.execute()
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 436, in execute
    self.fetch_command(subcommand).run_from_argv(self.argv)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 413, in run_from_argv
    self.execute(*args, **cmd_options)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py", line 75, in execute
    super().execute(*args, **options)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 459, in execute
    output = self.handle(*args, **options)
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py", line 82, in handle
    if not settings.DEBUG and not settings.ALLOWED_HOSTS:
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/conf/__init__.py", line 81, in __getattr__
    self._setup(name)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/conf/__init__.py", line 61, in _setup
    raise ImproperlyConfigured(
django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: Requested setting DEBUG, but settings are not configured. You must either define the environment variable DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE or call settings.configure() before accessing settings.
igenvirietech@IRIEL:~/ig/ig$ django-admin runserver
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/irietech/.local/bin/django-admin", line 8, in <module>
    sys.exit(execute_from_command_line())
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 442, in execute_from_command_line
    utility.execute()
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 436, in execute
    self.fetch_command(subcommand).run_from_argv(self.argv)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 413, in run_from_argv
    self.execute(*args, **cmd_options)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py", line 75, in execute
    super().execute(*args, **options)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 459, in execute
    output = self.handle(*args, **options)
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py", line 82, in handle
    if not settings.DEBUG and not settings.ALLOWED_HOSTS:
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/conf/__init__.py", line 81, in __getattr__
    self._setup(name)
  File "/home/irietech/.local/share/pipx/venvs/django/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/conf/__init__.py", line 61, in _setup
    raise ImproperlyConfigured(
django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: Requested setting DEBUG, but settings are not configured. You must either define the environment variable DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE or call settings.configure() before accessing settings.

my settings file

"""
Django settings for ig project.

Generated by 'django-admin startproject' using Django 5.1.6.

For more information on this file, see
https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/topics/settings/

For the full list of settings and their values, see
https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/ref/settings/
"""

from pathlib import Path
import os
os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "mysite.settings")

import django
django.setup()

from django.core.management import call_command

# Build paths inside the project like this: BASE_DIR / 'subdir'.
BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent


# Quick-start development settings - unsuitable for production
# See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/howto/deployment/checklist/

# SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
SECRET_KEY = 'django-insecure-fzque6xav^+2%6&w0bp2t!9b2p0(t09iku6hot0=g#15#xcot+'

# SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
DEBUG = True

ALLOWED_HOSTS = ["localhost"]
DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL = "irie.group225@gmail.com"



# Application definition

INSTALLED_APPS = [
    'django.contrib.admin',
    'django.contrib.auth',
    'django.contrib.contenttypes',
    'django.contrib.sessions',
    'django.contrib.messages',
    'django.contrib.staticfiles',
]

MIDDLEWARE = [
    'django.middleware.security.SecurityMiddleware',
    'django.contrib.sessions.middleware.SessionMiddleware',
    'django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware',
    'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
    'django.contrib.auth.middleware.AuthenticationMiddleware',
    'django.contrib.messages.middleware.MessageMiddleware',
    'django.middleware.clickjacking.XFrameOptionsMiddleware',
]

ROOT_URLCONF = 'ig.urls'

TEMPLATES = [
    {
        'BACKEND': 'django.template.backends.django.DjangoTemplates',
        'DIRS': [],
        'APP_DIRS': True,
        'OPTIONS': {
            'context_processors': [
                'django.template.context_processors.debug',
                'django.template.context_processors.request',
                'django.contrib.auth.context_processors.auth',
                'django.contrib.messages.context_processors.messages',
            ],
        },
    },
]

WSGI_APPLICATION = 'ig.wsgi.application'


# Database
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/ref/settings/#databases

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
        'NAME': BASE_DIR / 'db.sqlite3',
    }
}


# Password validation
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/ref/settings/#auth-password-validators

AUTH_PASSWORD_VALIDATORS = [
    {
        'NAME': 'django.contrib.auth.password_validation.UserAttributeSimilarityValidator',
    },
    {
        'NAME': 'django.contrib.auth.password_validation.MinimumLengthValidator',
    },
    {
        'NAME': 'django.contrib.auth.password_validation.CommonPasswordValidator',
    },
    {
        'NAME': 'django.contrib.auth.password_validation.NumericPasswordValidator',
    },
]


# Internationalization
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/topics/i18n/

LANGUAGE_CODE = 'en-us'

TIME_ZONE = 'UTC'

USE_I18N = True

USE_TZ = True


# Static files (CSS, JavaScript, Images)
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/howto/static-files/

STATIC_URL = 'static/'

# Default primary key field type
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/ref/settings/#default-auto-field

DEFAULT_AUTO_FIELD = 'django.db.models.BigAutoField'

KenWhitesell · February 20, 2025, 12:27pm

Welcome @IRIETech225 !

Side note: In the future, please open a new topic for individual issues - even if the symptoms are similar to an existing issue.

In the general case, you use manage.py to run runserver, not django-admin.

(Have you worked your way through the Official Django Tutorial? It teaches you how to do all this.)

Topic		Replies	Views
django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: Using Django	1	4095	July 9, 2020
Error Code on VS Code Using Django	3	1039	December 3, 2021
Improper error install apps Getting Started	2	345	February 16, 2023
After using models.Model on class - 'ImproperlyConfigured' error Django Using Django	3	1762	March 28, 2021
I get configure error when i try to launch my projects in debug mode Getting Started	12	281	July 3, 2024

Django configuration error

Related topics